Bill > SB5975

This bill aims to regulate lead in cookware by establishing stricter limits and providing clarity for consumers and businesses. It amends existing laws to define "aluminum or brass cookware" more precisely, including specific types of pots, pans, and internal cooking vessels, while excluding items with only an internal aluminum or brass layer enclosed by stainless steel, and certain electrical components of electronic cooking devices. The bill introduces phased-in reductions for lead content in aluminum or brass cookware and utensils, starting with a limit of 90 parts per million (ppm) for items manufactured on or after January 1, 2026, then decreasing to 50 ppm for pots and pans by January 1, 2030, and further to 20 ppm by January 1, 2034. It also mandates that manufacturers cannot intentionally add lead to these items starting January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Department of Ecology to provide guidance to manufacturers on compliance and testing, and it designates cookware containing lead as a priority consumer product for future regulatory review, with a goal of establishing a 20 ppm limit or the lowest feasible limit by June 1, 2032. Importantly, any regulatory determination made by the department under a broader law (chapter 70A.350 RCW) regarding lead in aluminum or brass cookware will supersede the specific ppm limits set in this bill, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to lead regulation.