Safer cosmetics certification subsidy program

Want to participate or learn more?

Contact us if you are a small cosmetics manufacturer (50 employees or less) and are interested in getting your products certified as safer, or you would like help understanding the upcoming restrictions or how to formulate your products using safer alternatives.

We are developing a certification subsidy program to help small cosmetics manufacturers obtain voluntary environmental health certifications for their cosmetics products. As of Jan. 1, 2025, the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (TFCA) restricts the manufacture, distribution, and sale of cosmetic products that contain certain chemicals and chemical classes within Washington.

Qualifying manufacturers seeking product certification can receive reimbursement up to:

75% of the cost for the first $10,000 spent.
50% of the cost for $10,000 to $50,000 spent.
Reformulation costs up to $2,500.

The maximum reimbursement towards product certification is $30,000.

I want to...

Why certify your products?

Manufacturers have the potential to stand out and benefit from certifying their products through:

Potential revenue boosts: Consumers and businesses seek products that have been verified by a trusted third party to contain safer chemicals. Retailers recognize and promote certified products (e.g., Amazon’s Climate Friendly Pledge). Small cosmetology businesses in Washington (such as beauty salons, nail salons, etc.) may also receive financial incentives to replace existing products with certified safer products. These factors could increase the demand for certified products such as yours, resulting in higher sales.
Brand recognition: Certification promotes your company as one that is invested in protecting the health of its workers, consumers, and environment.
Future-proofing products: Certification reduces the likelihood that you will need to reformulate again to meet the next regulation.

What is the purpose of the program?

This program provides technical support to manufacturers that wish to formulate with safer ingredients and financial support to manufacturers that wish to have their products reviewed by a third party for certification through an approved material health certification.

The certification process often includes:

Working with your suppliers to identify all the chemicals in your product.
Screening all the chemicals in your product for known hazards and for chemicals that will be restricted under the new law.
Reformulating your product using safer ingredients, if necessary.

This process can be expensive and require technical expertise that your small businesses may not have. This program can help remove those barriers.

Who is eligible to apply?

To qualify for the program, a small cosmetics manufacturer must meet the following criteria.

Employs 50 people or less.
Sells, manufactures, or distributes within Washington cosmetics products that meet the restrictions of TFCA.
Has pre-screened their product using safety data sheets (SDS).

For manufacturing companies that may not qualify, we encourage you to apply instead for our Safer Products Certification Subsidy program.

The law defines a cosmetic the same way as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does, which is anything intended to be used on the human body (rubbed, poured, sprinkled, sprayed, etc.) for the purpose of any of the following:

Cleansing.
Beautifying.
Promoting attractiveness.
Altering the appearance.

The following products are not considered cosmetics, and therefore are not regulated under TFCA:

Soaps.
Prescription drugs.
Over-the-counter medications, such as vitamins and mineral tablets.

For cosmetic products (such as sunscreens) that include an active ingredient not regulated under TFCA (e.g., an FDA-regulated drug ingredient), the other ingredients must still meet all the requirements under TFCA.

If your product has a safety data sheet (SDS) or material safety data sheet (MSDS), look at sections 2 and 3. You can also review these sections in safety data sheets of ingredients and partial formulations. If any ingredients or partial formulations in your product have any of the following carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive hazard warning statements, then your product IS NOT eligible for the safer cosmetics certification subsidy:

Hazard statements - H340 May cause genetic defects.
Hazard statements - H350 May cause cancer.
Hazard statements - H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child.
EU – Annex VI CMRs - Carcinogen Category 1A – Known human Carcinogen based on human evidence.
EU – Annex VI CMRs - Carcinogen Category 1B – Presumed Carcinogen based on animal evidence.
EU – Annex VI CMRs – Mutagen – Category 1A.
EU – Annex VI CMRs - Mutagen – Category 1B.

Contact us if you need help determining if your product meets TFCA restrictions or how to reformulate using safer alternatives.

Small businesses in the following categories will be prioritized:

Women-owned and minority-owned small cosmetics manufacturing companies.
Washington-based companies.

Frequently asked questions

Because TFCA already requires product evaluation to determine if products meet the restrictions, we recommend that manufacturing companies take the opportunity to reformulate with safer alternatives.

By moving toward not just unregulated chemicals but chemicals that are inherently safer for human health and the environment, manufacturers can reap similar rewards:

Reduce cost by reducing the likelihood you will need to reformulate again to meet the next regulation.
Show that your company is invested in human health and the environment.

While the certification program prioritizes smaller, women- and minority-owned businesses, our strategic goal is to help any company interested in switching to safer alternatives and learning how to be compliant with TFCA regulations. Contact us to learn how we may help.

For those that do not qualify for this program, manufacturing companies may apply for our Safer Products Certification Subsidy Program to potentially receive reimbursement for certification. Companies may qualify for one program only.

Expenses that are eligible for reimbursement are:

Work conducted by the assessor, including:
- Gathering information on formulation.
- Chemical hazard assessments.
- Audits.
Formulator subscriptions to CleanGredients.
Product performance testing required to meet certification criteria.
Payments to the certifying body.
Analytical testing for lead contamination levels in the product.
Reformulation (if needed) up to $2,500, which could include:
- Labor for research and development of reformulation.
- Materials for performance testing.

Contact information

Toxic-Free Cosmetics Team
ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov

Want to stay informed?
Subscribe to the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act email list