The Governor of Washington State has signed the Engrossed Substitute HB 2545 to amend RCW 70.240, limiting the flame retardant content in children’s products and residential upholstered furniture. The legislation shall be effective from 1 July, 2017.

There are two main ideas in the signed bill:

1. When the law is enforced, children’s products and residential upholstered furniture manufactured, distributed or sold in the state shall not contain product components with more than 1000 ppm of any of the following flame retardants:

• Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP)
• Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP)
• Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE)
• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
• Tetrabromobisphenol A that has not undergone a reactive process and is not covalently bonded to a polymer in a product or product component (Additive TBBPA)

Children’s products shall include:

• Toys
• Children’s cosmetics
• Children’s jewellery
• Products designed or intended by the manufacturer to help a child with sucking or teething, to facilitate sleep, relaxation, or the feeding of a child, or to be worn as clothing by children 
• Portable infant or child safety seat designed to attach to an automobile seat

The above restrictions shall not apply to previously owned products containing restricted chemicals sold or purchased in casual or isolated sales, or by a non-profit organisation.

2. The Department of Ecology is appointed to consider adding the following flame retardants to the list of chemicals of high concern for children (CHCC):

• Isopropylated triphenyl phosphate (IPTPP)
• (2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB)
• Bis (2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH)
• Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP)
• Triphenyl phosphate (TPP)
• Bis(chloromethyl) propane-1,3-diyltetrakis (2-chloroethyl) bisphosphate (V6)

The Solution:

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About Intertek

Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.

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