Washington state won’t move forward with a ban on cosmetics containing phthalates, formaldehyde, and “forever chemicals,” after legislation was unable to get a vote before the state’s legislature adjourned on Thursday.
The proposal would have made Washington—often a leader on toxics regulations—prohibit all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and seven other chemical classes from personal care products by 2025. While S.B. 5703 was passed by the Senate 26-21 on a mostly party-line vote, it stalled in the House.
The state’s inability to pass the bill benefits the cosmetics industry, which could have seen more legal action if it became ...