The Federal PACK Act Cleared Its First Markup

On September 1, 2026 the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade voted to advance the PACK Act (H.R. 6832) to the full committee. An amendment from Rep. Russ Fulcher was adopted, clarifying the FTC’s guidance role and setting minimum requirements for third-party certifications and certification bodies. No roll call vote was reported. The bill has 17 cosponsors, 16 Republicans and one Democrat.

The PACK Act is a labeling harmonization bill, not an EPR bill. It carries a preemption provision that would reach state labeling laws including California SB 343, whose enforcement is already preliminarily enjoined. The Recycled Materials Attribution Act (H.R. 7502) did not advance.

What this means for you: nothing changes for you today and no obligation arises from this. Clearing a subcommittee is an early step, the bill has no Senate companion, and a markup is not a law. Track it only if you sell labeled packaging into California, because it is the main federal route by which SB 343 could be displaced rather than merely enjoined. Source: Resource Recycling, “House subcommittee advances PACK Act” (September 1, 2026).