New York state requires tampon makers to disclose ingredients

New York is now the first U.S. state to require the ingredients of tampons and other feminine hygiene products be disclosed. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law late last week that requires tampon, pad, and other menstrual product manufacturers to display ingredients in these products, as they could contain toxic or allergic ingredients. Menstrual products are regulated by the FDA as medical devices, which means that companies don’t have to provide specific details about what’s in them. Consumers don’t currently know, for instance, how much cotton is found in these products versus synthetic materials. The law will go into effect at the beginning of April, at which point companies will have 18 months to develop new packaging labels. 

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