Washington State Set to Ban Five FRs from Two Product Classes

A bill to ban certain flame retardant (FR) chemicals from some children's products and residential upholstered furniture awaited the signature of Washington State Governor Jay Inslee (D) as PSL went to press. The bill (HB 2545) passed the state legislature March 9 with the House concurring with Senate amendments added March 4.

Starting in July 2017, the state would ban TDCPP, TCEP, decabromodiphenyl ether, HBCD, and additive TBBPA. The Department of Health also must assess five other FRs as chemicals of high concern under the state's chemicals reporting rules – IPTPP, TBB, TBPH, TCPP, TPP, and V6.

Additionally, it must convene a stakeholder advisory panel to develop recommendations for such policy options as reducing exposure, using safer substitutes, and deciding to ban other chemicals, especially those added to reporting requirements.

The definition of children's products includes toys; children's cosmetics; children's jewelry; items intended to aid children's sucking, teething, sleep, relaxation, or feeding; clothing; and portable infant/child car safety seats. Seventeen exclusions range from certain sporting equipment, electronics, and bicycles to specifically carved-out items like toy steam engines.

Meanwhile, the final bill (1.usa.gov/1UVrDHJ) defines residential upholstered furniture as already described in the state's health codes at 1.usa.gov/1pikXrk.