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Department of Ecology
Committees, Boards, and Workgroups

Toxic Free Cosmetics

Interested Parties Webpage

The Department of Ecology will use this site to share information and draft documents with interested parties as we implement Chapter 70A.560 Revised Code of Washington (RCW), the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act.

Lead-in-Cosmetics Rulemaking

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) started a rulemaking under the authority of Chapter 70A.560 RCW: Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, to identify a feasible approach to regulating lead in cosmetic products, including potentially adopting a different limit on lead impurities than the statutory limit of 1 part per million (ppm). 

Data collection: guidance documents & templates

Interim policy on lead restrictions in TFCA

Our agency has committed to take interim policy action by January 1, 2025, to give manufacturers more time to comply with the lead restriction and to give us more time to collect information. 

While the Interim Policy on Lead-in-Cosmetics remains in effect, we will use enforcement discretion and will not enforce against cosmetic products exceeding the 1 part per million (ppm) lead restriction for companies who comply with the interim policy. 

Manufacturers choosing to use the interim policy must notify Ecology using the "notification form" in the list below. Companies who have notified Ecology that they are using the interim policy are documented in the "interim policy form responses" below. Distributors, retailers, and cosmetologists may use the "interim policy form response" document to verify which manufacturers choose to use the interim policy. See our November 2024 bulletin for additional information.

Formaldehyde in Cosmetics Rulemaking

We're proposing restrictions to make cosmetic products safer. Our proposed rule restricts formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers intentionally used in cosmetic products. We defined "intentionally added" to clarify restrictions on the toxic chemicals in the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (RCW 70A.560.020). If adopted, the restrictions would take effect on January 1, 2027. Visit the rulemaking webpage for additional details.

Current step

The formal public comment period for the proposed rule is now closedWe are reviewing comments, revising the proposed rule as needed, and responding to comments. We expect to decide on rule adoption by Sept. 2025. 

Timeline

Compliance and Outreach FAQ

Our new resource, Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act Compliance & Outreach Questions and Answers, summarizes responses to questions we've received about compliance and outreach. Translations available: Amharic, Arabic, Khmer, Somali, Spanish

If you produce, manufacture, import, distribute, or sell cosmetic products (including through e-commerce), the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act Guide: Restrictions for Cosmetics Industry & Sellers is for you. It explains which chemicals are restricted and when restrictions begin. It'll help you assess your supply chain and determine if these chemicals are in your products. 

Additional Resources

Learn more on our website

Blogs & news releases

Related reports

Handouts

Videos

Health equity and environmental justice

TFCA updates

To receive updates by email, subscribe to the Toxic-Free Cosmetics email list.

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.

Documents

 File NameFile SizeDescriptionCategoryDate Added
2025_May2-InterimPolicyFormResponses.xlsx 347.5 KB Lead Interim Policy Form Responses
Lead Interim Policy Form Responses
None 05/02/25 08:52 AM
LeadInCosmeticsRequestforConfidentialTreatmentForm_05.01.2025.docx 30.8 KB Lead in Cosmetics Request for Confidential Treatme...
Lead in Cosmetics Request for Confidential Treatment Form
None 05/01/25 10:08 AM
LeadinCosmeticsDataCollectionTemplate_05.01.2025.xlsx 148.7 KB Lead in Cosmetics Data Collection Template
Lead in Cosmetics Data Collection Template
None 05/01/25 10:03 AM
LeadinCosmeticsDataCollectionExamples_05.01.2025.xlsx 148.8 KB Lead in Cosmetics Data Collection Example
Lead in Cosmetics Data Collection Example
None 05/01/25 10:03 AM
video01April2025.mp4 34.3 MB Public comment from 01 April 2025 hearing
Public comment from 01 April 2025 hearing
Rulemaking 04/03/25 08:56 AM
video31March2025.mp4 71.2 MB Public comment from 31 March 2025 hearing
Public comment from 31 March 2025 hearing
Rulemaking 04/03/25 08:53 AM
339A_Hearing_2025_Comms_finalremediated.pdf 5.7 MB TFCA_Webinar_FormaldehydeRulemaking_03-31-25
TFCA_Webinar_FormaldehydeRulemaking_03-31-25
Rulemaking 03/31/25 08:02 AM
NotificationFormSummary_ADA.pdf 139.2 KB Preview the form in the Notification Form Summary:...
Preview the form in the Notification Form Summary: Interim Policy on Lead in Cosmetics.
None 01/16/25 03:45 PM
TFCA_Webinar_ 2024_07-23.pdf 2.5 MB Presentation slides for TFCA July 23 2024 webinar
Presentation slides for TFCA July 23 2024 webinar
Rulemaking 07/22/24 06:48 PM
TFCA_PrelimDraftRule_2024-07.pdf 272.9 KB Preliminary draft rule language
Preliminary draft rule language
Rulemaking 07/22/24 04:26 PM
11June2024-TFCA-webinarSlides.pdf 3.5 MB Presentation slides for TFCA June 11 2024 webinar
Presentation slides for TFCA June 11 2024 webinar
None 06/07/24 05:01 PM
TFCA-Rulemaking-FormaldehydeReleasersList.pdf 297.7 KB List of formaldehyde-releasing chemicals
List of formaldehyde-releasing chemicals
None 06/07/24 05:00 PM