At the end of May, the Washington State Department of Ecology adopted a new rule, Chapter 173-337 WAC—regarding product restrictions and reporting—which goes into effect on July 1. This new chapter establishes a regulatory program to reduce certain chemicals in consumer products.
While consumers use hundreds of items every day containing chemicals, WR is concerned about the impacts these rules will have on product availability and safety, and especially fire retardancy. Washington state is just 2% of the U.S. market which will make it logistically and financially difficult to make products specifically for our state and could push manufacturers to forgo distribution here altogether.
The newly adopted rule creates reporting requirements and restrictions for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of priority consumer products that contain chemicals, which include:
- PFAS in aftermarket stain and water-resistance treatments, carpets and rugs, and leather and textile furnishings
- Ortho-phthalates in vinyl flooring and in personal care product fragrances
- Organohalogen flame retardants in electric and electronic products
- Flame retardants (as defined in RCW 70A.350.010) in recreational polyurethane foam
- Phenolic compounds in laundry detergent, food and drink can linings, and thermal paper
Visit the Washington stakeholder webpage for more information.
