The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board on Monday sanctioned a new state rule requiring manufacturers to label consumer products that intentionally contain a class of ‘forever chemicals’ that have been linked to serious health conditions.

The new rule comes via the PFAS Protection Act, which the Legislature passed and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham enacted last year.

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PFAS —aka per and poly fluoroalkyl substances — describes a class of manmade chemicals that resist breaking down in nature and can accumulate in water, soils and increasingly in the blood and bodies of humans and animals around the world. Because of PFAS’ durability, they’ve been used extensively in materials for waterproofing, nonstick cookware, makeup, carpets and firefighting foams.

Studies on PFAS’ health impacts remain ongoing, but have thus far been linked to kidney and reproductive cancers, decreased fertility, fetal developmental delays, disruption of immune responses and liver functions in people.

“Today marks a monumental day for New Mexico, putting our state at the forefront of tackling the public health and environmental effects of PFAS,” Environment Secretary James Kenney said in a statement. “Labeling consumer products containing PFAS is about honesty — a concept now required by regulation. Manufacturers of PFAS-containing consumer products must inform potential customers as to which cookware, children’s toys, cosmetics and toiletries and other products we purchase daily contain these chemicals. The rules place families on equal footing with the manufacturers.”

The PFAS Protect Act also requires the phasing out of most intentionally PFAS from everyday items, with cookware, food packaging and toys required by 2027; cosmetics, furniture and carpets by 2028; and all non-exempt products with intentionally added PFAS by 2032.