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 Safer Products for Washington email list to receive updates and invitations for public comment. Contact us at SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov.

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We started a new cycle of Safer Products for Washington implementation, during which we identified priority chemicals and chemical classes. On May 30, 2024, we published the Identification of Priority Chemicals Report to the Legislature. In this report, we identified seven chemical classes as priority chemicals for cycle 2.

• Cadmium and cadmium compounds
• Lead and lead compounds
• Organobromine and/or organochlorine substances
• Benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, and xylene substances (BTEX)
• Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers
• Cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS)
• 6PPD

We also published two additional cycle 2 resources in May 2024:

• Technical Supporting Documentation for Priority Chemicals: Safer Products for Washington Cycle 2 Implementation Phase 1
• Identification of Priority Chemicals Report to the Legislature: Safer Products for Washington Cycle 2 Phase 1 Comment Summary

Comment period

To gather input during phase 1, we hosted a public comment period in summer 2023. You can read submitted comments on our online comment form webpage.

On May 30, 2025, we published the Identification of Priority Products: Safer Products for Washington Cycle 2 Implementation Phase 2  report to the Legislature. 

Additional resources: 

• Technical Supporting Documentation for Priority Products: Safer Products for Washington Cycle 2, Implementation Phase 2 
• Priority Products Report to the Legislature: Safer Products for Washington Cycle 2, Phase 2 Comment Summary

Cycle 2 webinars

On June 17, 2025, we held two webinars where we summarized our final report and answered questions.  

• June 2025 presentation slides. 

In July 2024, we hosted a webinar to share a high-level summary of the final Priority Chemicals Report to the Legislature, an update on our priority products research and answered questions. If you're interested in learning more, please see the resources below. 

• July 2024 presentation slides. 
• Cycle 2 Priority Products Webinar Questions and Answers

In November 2024, the Safer Products for Washington team hosted a webinar that focused on the Cycle 2 Draft Identification of Priority Products Report to the Legislature. We presented information on the potential priority consumer products we identified and answered your questions. 

• November 2024 presentation slides.
• November 14, 2024 Webinar Summary

As an additional resource to share the work we've done, we published our Draft Technical Supporting Documentation for Priority Products: Safer Products for Washington Cycle 2 Implementation Phase 2.

Public Comment Period

We thank you for sharing your feedback on the draft report. The public comment period closed Dec. 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. You can read submitted comments on our online comment form webpage.

• Email us at SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov.

Safer Products for Washington survey

Thank you to everyone who responded to our Safer Products for Washington survey this spring (from March 6 to April 12, 2024). Your feedback helped us identify the consumer products that matter most to Washington communities and select products for evaluation in cycle 2. View the Spring 2024 SPWA Survey Results.  

We are conducting a rulemaking to revise the Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting rule (Chapter 173-337 WAC) to adopt restrictions and reporting requirements related to the intentional use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the following product categories. 

• The proposed rule restricts the intentional use of PFAS in: 
  • Apparel and accessories. 
  • Automotive washes. 
  • Cleaning products. 
• The proposed rule requires manufacturers to report the intentional use of PFAS in: 
  • Apparel for extreme and extended use. 
  • Footwear
  • Gear for recreation and travel. 
  • Automotive waxes. 
  • Cookware and kitchen supplies. 
  • Firefighting personal protective equipment. 
  • Floor waxes and polishes. 
  • Hard surface sealers. 
  • Ski waxes. 

We proposed the draft rule June 4, 2025. We held two webinars in July, and our comment period closed on July 20, 2025. We intend to adopt the revised rule by December 2025.

Please visit our rulemaking webpage for details about this rulemaking, including anticipated timelines, comment opportunities, public hearing information, and supporting documents. 

On May 31, 2023, we adopted a new rule, Chapter 173-337 WAC—Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting. This new chapter establishes a regulatory program to reduce toxic chemicals in consumer products and increase product ingredient transparency, as directed by Washington law. Consumers use hundreds of items every day. Many of these products contain chemicals that are hazardous to human health and the environment. Ecology adopted a new rule to regulate hazardous chemicals in consumer products.

The adopted rule:

• Implements the regulatory actions reported to the Washington State Legislature in June 2022. This includes our "Criteria for Safer" in Appendix C and our "Criteria for Feasible and Available" in Appendix D.
• Creates reporting requirements and restrictions that apply to priority consumer products that contain priority chemicals. These 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.
• Addresses existing stock, repair and replacement parts, refurbished products, and previously owned products.

The adopted rule became effective on July 1, 2023. Some manufacturers, distributors, and retailers must comply with restrictions on some consumer products starting on January 1, 2025. Reporting parties must submit the first notification by January 31, 2025. The Safer Products for Washington Cycle 1: Adopted Rule Highlights document provides an overview of the restrictions and reporting requirements for fourteen chemical-product combinations. 

Ecology has the authority to issue administrative orders requiring that producers or distributors of products offered for sale in Washington provide information about those products (see RCW 70A.350.030(4) and 70A.350.040(2)). While we use an “order," we want to emphasize that these orders are not associated with any manufacturer being out of compliance.

Once an order has been issued, manufacturers have six months to submit the information to us and can apply for confidential treatment of the information they submit.

We use information submitted in response to our orders to help determine appropriate regulatory actions. Though not required by law, we aim to develop summary reports after an order is complete. These reports provide data on chemical-product combinations, showing where and how chemicals are used. This information also promotes transparency in program efforts to reduce priority chemicals in consumer products.

Please reach out to us at SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov if you have questions about the process for these orders.

Manufacturer Orders to Date

Below, we’ve listed manufacturer orders and published summaries by chemical-product combination based on the year the order was issued.

Orders in Progress

• February 2025: PFAS in Cookware—Summary expected Winter 2025
• 2024: PFAS in Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—Summary expected Summer 2025

Completed Order Summaries

• 2023: PFAS in Apparel and Gear Manufacturer Data Summary
• 2021: Ortho-phthalates in vinyl flooring Manufacturer Data summary

Key Compliance Deadlines

• Restrictions: Restrictions on certain intentionally added priority chemicals take effect Jan. 1, 2025. Note: If there's a restriction, you don't report. 
• Initial Reporting: Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers required to report must submit their first notification through the High Priority Chemicals Data System (HPCDS) by January 31, 2025. Note: If there is a reporting requirement, the chemical isn't restricted. 
• First-time users need to create an HPCDS account before submitting information. Click 'Register' under the login button. 
• See reporting requirements (WAC 173-337-060) for details about the information that must be included in annual reports.
• Ongoing Reporting: Products tracked beginning January 1, 2024, must be reported by Jan. 31, 2025. Every year thereafter, manufacturers are required to report the previous year's products by January 31st of the following year. 

Resources

• We have launched a new compliance and reporting webpage for Safer Products for Washington that provide detailed information on restrictions and reporting requirements, resources to help with compliance, and answers to frequently asked questions related to compliance with the rule.
• We published a resource to help businesses that manufacture electric and electronic products comply with the Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting rule.
• Our Exemption Request Process Resource: Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting, Chapter 173-337 WAC can help answer questions about requesting an exemption. 
• Interstate Chemical Clearinghouse (IC2) maintains the HPCDS system and provides user guides to assist with reporting and data searches.

Compliance support webinars

On September 12, 2024, we gave an overview and answered frequently asked questions about the regulations in Chapter 173-337 WAC, including the exemption application process.

• September 2024 presentation slides. 

The law requires us to develop a stakeholder advisory process by June 1, 2020. We 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 (updated November 2021).

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 70A.430 
• 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:

• Learn how to reduce your exposure to PFAS in your home.
  • En español: Reduzca su exposición a las PFAS
• Learn how to reduce your exposure to flame retardants in your home.
  • En español: Reduzca su exposición a materiales resistentes al fuego
• Find more information about Ecology's Phthalates Action Plan. 
• 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 360-407-6700 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.