WAC 173-337 – Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) started a rulemaking to revise the Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting ruleChapter 173-337 WAC, aiming to reduce PFAS in consumer products. Ecology plans to conduct this rulemaking to:

  • Reduce the use of priority chemicals in priority consumer products.
  • Revise Chapter 173-337 WAC in accordance with the regulatory actions outlined in the Regulatory Determinations Report to the Legislature that Ecology will submit by June 1, 2024.

In this rulemaking, Ecology may create reporting requirements or restrictions that apply to the use of PFAS in product categories such as:

  • Apparel and gear.
    • Apparel examples include athleticwear, rainwear, school uniforms, clothing for everyday use, undergarments (reusable baby diapers and period underwear), hats, scarves, gloves, shoes, outerwear for mountaineering, outerwear for whitewater kayaking, and commercial fishing bibs for offshore fishing.
    • Gear examples include backpacks, sleeping bags, umbrellas, camping furniture, and climbing rope.
  • Cleaning products, including products to wash automobiles and boats.
  • Cookware and kitchen supplies.
    • Examples include frying pans, cooking pots, rice cookers, waffle makers, griddles, bakeware, and reusable baking liners.
  • Firefighting PPE (personal protective equipment).
  • Hard surface sealants.
    • Examples include sealants applied to hard porous surfaces like stone, unglazed tile, concrete, and wood. They can be used for interior and exterior applications.
  • Waxes and polishes, including products for floors, automobiles, skis, and snowboards.

The Safer Products for Washington program also:

  • Published the Cycle 1.5 Draft Regulatory Determinations Report (C1.5 report).
  • Invites you to share feedback on the C1.5 report. The comment period closes on Jan. 22, 2024.
  • Hosted webinars on Dec. 13 and 14, 2023 to provide an overview of the C1.5 report and seek feedback from attendees. See our public meeting and events for more information.

Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
Dec. 8, 2023


Announcement documents

Rule development phase

June 2024 – Jan. 2025

Public input & involvement

Get involved in this rulemaking:

As we schedule additional opportunities to provide feedback and participate in workshops, we will share details on our webpages and via our email list. We anticipate:

  • Developing draft rule requirements in the summer of 2024.
  • Sharing a preliminary draft rule, providing a public comment period, and hosting webinars in the fall of 2024.
  • Proposing a formal draft rule, providing a public comment period, and hosting hearings, in the summer of 2025.
  • Adopting the revised rule by Dec. 1, 2025.

Additional languages

Español (Spanish) 中文 (Chinese) Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 한국어 (Korean)

Accessibility

To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact Ecology's ADA Coordinator by email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6831. People with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.