On August 28, Washington adopted the new rule, Chapter 173-339 WAC: Cosmetic Products Restrictions, which restricts the use of formaldehyde releaser ingredients in cosmetic products sold in the state.
The rule prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of a cosmetic that contains intentionally added formaldehyde releasers, including the following 25 ingredients:
• DMDM Hydantoin (CAS 6440-58-0)
• Diazolidinyl Urea (CAS 78491-02-8)
• Imidazolidinyl Urea (CAS 39236-46-9)
• Quaternium-15 (CAS 4080-31-3; 51229-78-8)
• Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin (PTSAF) (CAS 25035-71-6)
• 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol (Bronopol) (CAS 52-51-7)
• Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (CAS 70161-44-3)
• Polyoxymethylene Urea (CAS 9011-05-6; 68611-64-3)
• Polyoxymethylene Melamine (CAS 9003-08-1)
• 5-Bromo-5-Nitro-1,3-Dioxane (Bronidox) (CAS 30007-47-7)
• 7-Ethylbicyclo-oxazolidine (Bioban CS1246) (CAS 7747-35-5)
• Benzylhemiformal (CAS 14548-60-8)
• Dimethylhydantoin formaldehyde (DMHF) (CAS 26811-08-5; 9065-13-8)
• Dimethylol Glycol (CAS 3586-55-8)
• Dimethylol Urea (CAS 140-95-4)
• Dimethyl Oxazolidine (CAS 51200-87-4)
• MDM Hydantoin (CAS 116-25-6; 27636-82-4; 16228-00-5)
• Methenamine (CAS 100-97-0)
• Methylal (CAS 109-87-5)
• Paraformaldehyde (CAS 30525-89-4)
• Polyoxymethylene (CAS 9002-81-7)
• Tetramethylolglycoluril (CAS 5395-50-6)
• Timonacic (when used in heat-activated hair straighteners) (CAS 444-27-9)
• Tris-Hydroxymethylnitromethane (CAS 126-11-4)
• Urea, polymer with formaldehyde, isobutylated (CAS 68002-18-6)
The restrictions take effect January 1, 2027, but in-state retailers have until December 31, 2027 to sell through existing stock
Reminder: Washington prohibited formaldehyde in cosmetics as well as several other substances as of January 1, 2025 per HB 1047 (2023-24)
https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/laws-rules-rulemaking/rulemaking/wac-173-339
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