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Washington Finalizes Formaldehyde Releasers in Cosmetics Rule

Sep. 3 2025

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 stockReminder: 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 How Does this Impact You? Contact Us to Discuss If you have any comments and/or questions, please contact your customer service representative or visit: www.cps.bureauveritas.com25B-079