Washington § 70A.350.040 - Regulatory actions — Report to the legislature — Authority to restrict or prohibit priority chemicals.

(1) Every five years, and consistent with the timeline established in RCW 70A.350.050, the department, in consultation with the department of health, must determine regulatory actions to increase transparency and to reduce the use of priority chemicals in priority consumer products. The department must submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature at the time that it determines regulatory actions. The department may:

(a) Determine that no regulatory action is currently required;

(b) Require a manufacturer to provide notice of the use of a priority chemical or class of priority chemicals consistent with RCW 70A.430.060; or

(c) Restrict or prohibit the manufacture, wholesale, distribution, sale, retail sale, or use, or any combination thereof, of a priority chemical or class of priority chemicals in a consumer product.

(2)(a) The department may order a manufacturer to submit information consistent with RCW 70A.350.030(4).

(b) The department may require a manufacturer to provide:

(i) A list of products containing priority chemicals;

(ii) Product ingredients;

(iii) Information regarding exposure and chemical hazard; and

(iv) A description of the amount and the function of the high priority chemical in the product.

(3) The department may restrict or prohibit a priority chemical or members of a class of priority chemicals in a priority consumer product when it determines:

(a) Safer alternatives are feasible and available; and

(b)(i) The restriction will reduce a significant source of or use of a priority chemical; or

(ii) The restriction is necessary to protect the health of sensitive populations or sensitive species.

(4) When determining regulatory actions under this section, the department may consider, in addition to the criteria pertaining to the selection of priority chemicals and priority consumer products that are specified in RCW 70A.350.020 and 70A.350.030, whether:

(a) The priority chemical or members of a class of priority chemicals are functionally necessary in the priority consumer product; and

(b) A restriction would be consistent with regulatory actions taken by another state or nation on a priority chemical or members of a class of priority chemicals in a product.

(5) A restriction or prohibition on a priority chemical in a consumer product may include exemptions or exceptions, including exemptions to address existing stock of a product in commerce at the time that a restriction takes effect.