SG 041/25
Washington State proposes to ban intentionally added formaldehyde releasers in cosmetics and products classified as both drugs and cosmetics, effective January 1, 2027.
On February 6, 2025, the Washington State Department of Ecology published a proposed ruling to identify 28 formaldehyde-releasing ingredients. This rule would apply to cosmetics as well as products classified as both drugs and cosmetics. Manufacturers will have a one-year grace period after the January 1, 2027, effective date to sell all existing stock.
The following 28 ingredients were identified as formaldehyde releasers:
- DMDM hydantoin
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Imidiazolidinyl urea
- Quaternium-15
- Tosylamide/formaldehyde resin (PTSAF)
- 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol)
- Sodium hydroxymethyl-glycinate
- Polyoxymethylene urea
- Glyoxal
- Polyoxymethylene melamine
- 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane (Bronidox)
- 7-ethylbicyclo-oxazolidine (Bioban CS1246)
- Benzylhemiformal
- Dimethylhydantoin formaldehyde (DMHF)
- Dimethylol glycol
- Dimethylol urea
- Dimethyl oxazolidine
- Glyoxylic acid (when used in heat-activated hair straighteners)
- Glyoxylol carbocysteine (when used in heat-activated hair straighteners)
- MDM hydantoin
- Methenamine
- Methylal
- Paraformaldehyde
- Polyoxymethylene
- Tetramethylol-glycoluril
- Timonacic (when used in heat-activated hair straighteners)
- Tris (hydroxymethyl) nitromethane
- Urea, polymer with formaldehyde, isobutylated
Two public hearings are scheduled for March 31 and April 1, 2025, to gather feedback before finalizing the proposed rule. If adopted, the ban will take effect on January 1, 2027.
State moves to ban known carcinogen in cosmetics, on February 6th, 2025.
A summary of timeline in this Act:
| Timeline | Requirement |
|---|---|
| From January 1, 2027 | No manufacturers are allowed to sell cosmetics or products classified as cosmetics and drugs that contain any of the 28 ingredients. However, they are allowed a one-year sell through period to get rid of any remaining stock. |
| By January 1, 2028 | No manufacturers are allowed to sell cosmetics or products classified as cosmetics and drugs that contain any of the 28 ingredients. |
Manufacturers have a one-year grace period after the January 1 effective date to sell all existing stock.
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