Safer Products for Washington informal comment period

On Dec. 8, 2023, we started a rulemaking to revise the Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting rule—Chapter 173-337 WAC, aiming to reduce PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in consumer products. We are conducting this rulemaking to:

• Reduce the use of priority chemicals in priority consumer products.
• Revise Chapter 173-337 WAC according to regulatory actions outlined in the Regulatory Determinations Report to the Legislature: Cycle 1.5 Implementation Phase 3 published May 30, 2024.

We’ll use your feedback to inform the formal draft rule, which we intend to propose in Summer 2025.

How to submit comments

This informal public comment period opens Sept. 18, 2024, at 12 a.m., and closes Oct. 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Submit your comments by:

• Online public comment form.
• Email to SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov.

Online informational webinar

We are holding a virtual informational webinar via Zoom on Sept. 25, 2024, at 9:30 A.M.

Background

Safer Products for Washington establishes a process where we designate priority chemicals, identify products that contain those chemicals, determine needed regulatory actions, and adopt rules to implement regulatory actions. Before we can restrict the use of a chemical in an identified consumer product, the law requires that safer alternatives are feasible and available.

On Dec. 8, 2023, we started a rulemaking to revise the Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting rule—Chapter 173-337 WAC, aiming to reduce PFAS in consumer products. 

In May 2024, we published:

• Regulatory Determinations Report to the Legislature: Cycle 1.5 Implementation Phase 3.
• Technical Supporting Documentation: Cycle 1.5 Implementation Phase 3.
• Comment Summary: Cycle 1.5 Implementation Phase 3.

We are now in the rulemaking phase of cycle 1.5, where we plan to propose and adopt rules to implement the new regulatory actions.

For more information:

• Safer Products for Washington.
• Safer Products for Washington stakeholder webpage.
• Subscribe to the Safer Products for Washington email list.