Earth Ministry/WAIPL couldn’t be happier to announce that the Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act has been signed into law! We are grateful for the relentless dedication of faith communities across the state who devoted their time and energy to this historical piece of legislation that truly protects the most vulnerable among us.
Apr 01, 2016
Washington Toxics Coalition
Seattle, WA –Today Governor Inslee will sign the Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act (ESHB 2545). The new law bans five toxic chemicals in home furniture and kids’ products, including the first-ever ban on TBBPA, a chemical found in kids’ car seats. It also establishes a state process for addressing six additional toxic flame retardants in the future. The bill signing is scheduled for 2:45PM in the Governor’s Conference Room in Olympia, WA.
Toxic flame retardants are cancer-causing and brain damaging chemicals that escape from consumer products and contaminate air, house dust, people, homes, wildlife, and waterways. Safer alternatives are available to ensure products are fire-safe.
The following is the statement of Laurie Valeriano, Executive Director of the Washington Toxics Coalition:
“Today is a great day for kids, parents, and firefighters! We can all feel safer in our homes because the Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act is now law. The message from Washington state is clear: brain damaging and cancer-causing toxic flame retardants have no place in our homes, bodies, food, or environment.
For decades, the chemical industry has misled policymakers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers about the safety of toxic flame retardants. We cannot continue to rely on the chemical industry to protect our health from these dangerous chemicals.
We need state laws like this bipartisan law to protect our health from chemicals that are known to be harmful but still legally allowed in products we use everyday. Washington state has been a leader on these issues for years and we are thrilled this leadership continues.
We want to thank Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) and Senator Linda Parlette (R-Wenatchee) for sponsoring the bill, as well as for their leadership in its passage. We also want to thank Senators Nelson, Cleveland, Ericksen and Brown and Reps. Fitzgibbon, Senn, Taylor, Shea and Short for their leadership on the issue.
We also thank the over 60 groups and organizations who supported this bill, including the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, Washington Fire Chiefs, Earth Ministry, the Arc of Washington State, Progreso: Latino Progress, the Academy of Pediatrics—WA State Chapter, as well as health professionals across the state.
Specifically, the Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act:
1. Bans five flame retardants in children’s products and furniture (HBCD, TCEP, TDCPP, Deca-BDE and TBBPA) beginning July 1, 2017. The ban on TBBPA, a cancer-causing flame retardant found in textiles, car seats and toys, is the first time the chemical has been banned in the United States.
2. Directs the Washington State Departments of Health and Ecology to evaluate six additional toxic flame retardants and make recommendations to the Legislature on whether to restrict their use in consumer products. Ecology recommended these six chemicals be banned in children’s products and furniture in a 2015 report to the Legislature.
Several furniture manufacturers, including Ashley Furniture and Macy’s have already pledged to stop selling furniture containing toxic flame retardants.
The Washington Toxics Coalition is a state organization working to protect health and the environment by eliminating exposures to toxic chemicals. To read the original press release, please click here.