Washington State has invited public comment on the five “priority chemical classes” identified in the State’s new law RCW 70.365 “Safer Products for Washington” adopted Spring 2019 (Senate Bill 5135). This law identifies as initial “Priority chemicals” organohalogen flame retardants and other flame retardants identified by the Washington State Department of Ecology (as well as perfluoroalkyls PFAS, phenol compounds, phthalates, PCBs). The bill requires the Department of Ecology to identify possible additional priority chemicals to add to this list, to identify consumer products that are a significant source of priority chemicals, to determine and adopt regulatory actions to increase transparency and reduce the use of priority chemicals in these consumer products. The stakeholder consultation proposed, for flame retardants, has an emphasis on electronics, foam used in furniture and juvenile products, and building insulation. A further consultation is expected on a draft report early 2020.
Washington State “Safe Products for Washington” website https://www.ezview.wa.gov/site/alias__1962/37555/safer_products_for_washington.aspx
Law 70.365 RCW “Safer Products for Washington” https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.365
Washington Sate Department of Ecology web page on flame retardants and PBDE action plan https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Reducing-toxic-chemicals/Addressing-priority-toxic-chemicals/PBDE
Washington State stakeholder email inviting input (September 2019) – a clear deadline for response is not specified https://www.ezview.wa.gov/Portals/_1962/Documents/saferproducts/Stakeholder Email_September 2019.pdf