Washington Law Attempts to Fill the Void in Federal Regulation of Hazardous Chemicals

By Emma Peterson

A new act implemented earlier this year in Washington has banned five chemical classes in 10 product categories throughout the state, making it the nation’s strongest law regulating toxic chemicals in products. The Safer Products for Washington program, an outgrowth of the Pollution Prevention for Our Future Act signed by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2019, is setting a precedent for other states and changing the game for the U.S. chemical industry.