Bill > HB2344

This bill amends existing Washington state law concerning lead in cookware to provide consumers with safer options and ensure certainty in trade. It clarifies definitions for "aluminum or brass cookware" and "cookware testing methods," which are government-accepted ways to check the safety of these items. The bill adjusts the timeline for reducing lead content in new aluminum or brass cookware, utensils, and components, setting a limit of 90 parts per million (ppm) starting January 1, 2026, and a stricter limit of 10 ppm by January 1, 2030, unless the products meet specific testing standards. It also includes exemptions for certain items like those with stainless steel food contact surfaces, large appliances, and cookware with trace amounts of lead from unavoidable manufacturing processes. The bill also clarifies that retailers are not liable for unknowingly selling non-compliant products and exempts certain previously owned items and warranty repairs. Finally, it allows the Department of Ecology, in consultation with the Department of Health, to potentially lower the 10 ppm lead limit after 2030 if deemed feasible and necessary for public health, particularly for vulnerable populations.