Washington introduced Senate Bill 5975, Safe Cookware and House Bill 2344, Consumer Access to Safe Cookware. Both bills propose to amend the existing law regarding lead content limits in aluminum or brass cookware, utensils, and cookware components. The bills modify definitions, exemptions, and a compliance date for lead content restrictions.
Summary of the Bills:
• Exemptions modified:
• Modifies an exemption for items with only an internal layer of aluminum or brass that is completely enclosed by stainless steel to one that has a stainless-steel food contact cooking surface that is metallurgically bonded and has de minimus amounts of aluminum or brass exposed at the exterior edge of the cookware
• Adds to the list a stove or range, cooktop, or similar large appliance, except a grill or griddle surface or zone included as a cooking surface on such an appliance
• Adds cookware with trace amounts of lead that are unintentionally added, present as impurities or technically unavoidable manufacturing processes, and do not result in exposure above levels of concern as determined consistent with US EPA guidance
• Covered products that were manufactured on or before December 31, 2025, and are repaired or replaced under warranty on or after January 1, 2028, are exempt, as long as sold in compliance with FDA regulations at the time of sale.
• Definitions revised
• "Aluminum or brass cookware component" means cookware parts, intended for food contact in or on which food is cooked, made of aluminum or brass and that are lids, rivets, fasteners, valves, and vent pipes, unless the intended food contact surfaces are enclosed by stainless steel or a surface coating permitted by the FDA.
• "Aluminum or brass utensils" means tools made from aluminum or brass such as knives, forks, spoons, spatulas, and similar tools used for preparing, serving, or eating food, unless completely enclosed by stainless steel or a surface coating permitted by the FDA.
• The 10 ppm limit will begin on January 1, 2030, instead of January 2028, unless the covered products are compliant with cookware testing methods. The state department may ask a manufacturer for a test report to prove compliance.
• "Cookware testing methods" means government accepted testing methods for evaluating the safety of aluminum or brass cookware, utensils, or components including, but not limited to, methods published in the US FDA elemental analysis manual for food and related products as it existed on December 19, 2025, or methods described in the European directorate for the quality of medicines & health care technical guide, as it existed on December 19, 2025, for assessing metals and alloys in contact with food.
For more information, see links for the bills:
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5975.pdf?q=20260107131732
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2344.pdf?q=20260113101137
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