Washington Proposes Chemical Restrictions Across Consumer Products

Washington’s Department of Ecology has opened consultation on draft regulatory determinations for 15 consumer-product categories under Safer Products for Washington. The proposals cover products including paints, cookware, cosmetics and firefighting equipment. They are preliminary determinations requiring subsequent rulemaking, rather than new restrictions already in force. Ecology’s consultation opened on 3 November 2026.

Restrictions And Reporting

The draft report proposes restrictions on PFAS in most architectural paints, artificial turf, cookware and kitchen supplies, specified firefighting protective equipment, floor waxes and polishes, and hard-surface sealers. It also proposes restrictions on cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in cosmetics, BTEX substances in nail products, and lead and cadmium compounds in jewellery and accessories.

Different uses receive different determinations. Ecology proposes reporting for 6PPD in motor-vehicle tyres, but restriction in artificial turf. PVC and PVDC in plastic packaging would face reporting requirements. For organohalogen flame retardants, restriction is proposed for rigid polyisocyanurate foam roofing assemblies, with reporting for other insulation types. Special-purpose architectural paints also receive a separate PFAS reporting determination.

Consultation And Rulemaking

The programme operates in repeating five-year cycles, moving from priority chemicals and products to regulatory determinations and then rules. The current second cycle began in 2023; this report is its third phase. Draft report, introduction and schedule.

Comments close at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on 18 December 2026. Ecology plans final determinations by June 2027 and expects implementing rules by June 2028, subject to legislative changes to the determinations or timetable.