Department of Ecology
Committees, Boards, and Workgroups

The Departments of Ecology and Health will use this site to share information and draft documents as we implement Chapter 70A.350 Revised Code of Washington (formerly Chapter 70.365 RCW). Our implementation program for the law is called Safer Products for Washington.

Subscribe to the SaferProductsWA email list to receive updates and invitations for public comment. Contact us at SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov.

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Register for our webinars about specific products

Join the Safer Products for WA team this spring and summer for webinars focused on individual product categories. We’re hosting six webinars, with each including two product categories.

At each webinar, we’ll share our progress identifying safer alternatives that are feasible and available and outline what we’re thinking in terms of potential restrictions or reporting requirements. The majority of each webinar will focus on discussion with stakeholders.

July 13: Recreational polyurethane foam (9:30 a.m.) and food and drink cans (12 p.m.)

• Register for Tuesday, July 13, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PST

July 27: Aftermarket stain and water resistance treatments (9:30 a.m.) and personal care products (12 p.m.)

• Register for Tuesday, July 27, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PST

We will discuss the first product from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and the second product from 12 to 2 p.m. PST, with a 30-minute break in between. From 2 to 2:30 p.m., our team will provide an update covering all product categories. You are welcome to join us for the whole webinar, or for only the portions you’re interested in. More webinar announcements coming soon!

Get updates on our Phase 3 work in our product webinar materials

Furnishings

• May 18 webinar presentation slides (slides 1 through 56 address furnishings)
• See slide 51 for the feedback stakeholders shared during the discussion
• View the questions from attendees and the Safer Products for WA team's answers
• View the list of webinar attendees

Laundry detergent

• May 18 webinar presentation slides (slides 57 through 100 address laundry detergent)
• See slide 94 for the feedback stakeholders shared during the discussion
• View the questions from attendees and the Safer Products for WA team's answers
• View the list of webinar attendees

Review our working draft criteria for safer, feasible, and available

We outlined our Phase 3 approach during our October 2020 webinar presentation. In February 2021, we shared our working draft criteria for safer and draft criteria for feasible and available to give stakeholders another chance to share input. See how stakeholder feedback contributed to changes in our approach and find more details in our March 2021 webinar presentation and in the questions and answers from the webinar.

Here are ways to provide input on our Phase 3 work:

• Use our online comment form to share your input.
• Email your feedback to SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov.
• Reach out to us to set up a meeting to ask questions or discuss our criteria.

We are using these draft criteria to determine whether a potential alternative to a priority chemical class is safer than the existing process, feasible for use in the priority product, and available on the market. These criteria describe a required part of the work we will complete as we make regulatory determinations.

Orders for information from manufacturers

Part of our work to determine regulatory actions involves requesting information from manufacturers about their products. We request this information using Administrative Orders. While we must use an “order” to request the information, we want to emphasize that these orders are not associated with any manufacturer being out of compliance.

The information manufacturers must provide through these orders will help us assess the current presence of priority chemicals or chemical classes in priority products. If you manufacture a priority product included in our report to the Legislature, we may contact you to provide information about your use of priority chemicals. Manufacturers have six months to collect and submit the information to us, and they can request that we keep the information they submit confidential. Please reach out to us at SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov if you have questions about the process for these orders.

Stakeholder advisory process

The law requires us to develop a stakeholder advisory process by June 1, 2020. We have been working to engage interested parties at every major stage in our implementation process. We aim for transparency and to involve our stakeholders in decisions affecting their lives and businesses. To learn more about our progress to date, read our stakeholder engagement process.

Safer Products for Washington background

Chapter 70A.350 RCW (formerly Chapter 70.365 RCW) creates a process for Ecology, in consultation with Health, to regulate classes of chemicals in consumer products. The law requires us to designate priority chemicals, identify products that contain these chemicals, determine regulatory actions, and adopt rules to implement regulatory actions. Chemical restrictions require that safer alternatives are feasible and available. The law outlines steps that involve stakeholder consultation, legislative reporting, and rulemaking.

The first set of priority chemical classes were identified in the law. They are:

• Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) 
• Phthalates
• Organohalogen flame retardants and flame retardants identified in RCW 70.240.010 
• Phenolic compounds
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

The first set of priority products we identified in our 2020 priority products report are below. You can also view the comments we received on the priority products report. 

• Flame retardants
  • Electric and electronic equipment
  • Recreational polyurethane foam
• PCBs
  • Paints and printing inks
• PFAS
  • Carpet and rugs
  • Aftermarket stain and water resistance treatments
  • Leather and textile furnishings
• Phenolic compounds 
  • Laundry detergent (alkylphenol ethoxylates)
  • Thermal paper (bisphenols)
  • Food and drink cans (bisphenols)
• Phthalates
  • Vinyl flooring
  • Personal care products

The first five deadlines in the law are:

Related information and projects

• Learn how to reduce your exposure to PFAS in your home.
  • En español: Mantenga su hogar y su familia sanos: Reduzca su exposición a las PFAS
• Learn how to reduce your exposure to flame retardants in your home.
• Find more information about Ecology's PFAS Chemical Action Plan. 
• See updates on Ecology's PFAS in Food Packaging Alternatives Assessment. 

ADA Accessibility: The Department of Ecology is committed to providing people with disabilities access to information and services by meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Washington State Policy #188. To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-999-7566 or email at hwtrpubs@ecy.wa.gov. For Washington Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341. Visit Ecology’s website for more information.