Washington, USA, Proposes Revision to Lead in Cookware

SafeGuardSHardgoodsMarch 03, 2026

SG 036/26

Washington State plans to amend its law on cookware containing lead.

In 2025, Washington revised the scope of cookware products and lead limit values under its law on cookware containing lead. These new restrictions will be implemented in phases, starting January 1, 2026 (RCW 70A.565, SafeGuardS 65/25).

In January 2026, Washington introduced SB 5975 to amend the state’s law on lead in cookware. This bill has passed the Senate and is currently in the House.

Key changes in the latest version of the bill, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5975 (ESSB 5975), are summarized in Table 1.

	RCW 70A.565 (current law)	ESSB 5975 to amend RCW 70A.565
Scope	Aluminum and brass cookware¹^, ² Aluminum and brass utensils Aluminum and brass cookware components	Aluminum and brass cookware¹^,³ Aluminum and brass utensils Aluminum and brass cookware components
Requirement and effective date	≤ 90 ppm lead (January 1, 2026) ≤ 10 ppm lead (January 1, 2028)⁴	≤ 90 ppm lead for items manufactured from January 1, 2026 Prohibited from January 1, 2027, if lead is intentionally added⁵ To evaluate lead in cookware as a priority product beginning with the June 1, 2029, review cycle established under RCW 70A.350.050(2)(b) on reporting of priority chemicals To determine regulatory actions and adopt rules by June 1, 2032, to implement regulatory determinations by a) adopting a 10 ppm lead limit or lowest concentration feasible and b) considering the entire life cycle of the cookware product Authorizes the Department of Ecology (DoE) to order cookware manufacturers to provide data on lead in their products and make this information publicly available
¹ Exempts items with only an internal layer of aluminum or brass that is completely enclosed by stainless steel ² Exempts body of electronic cooking devices with removable cooking containers, such as pressure cookers, rice cookers and slow cookers ³ Exempts electrical components of electronic cookware devices and the body of electronic cooking devices with removable cooking containers, such as pressure cookers, rice cookers and slow cookers ⁴ May lower the limit by rule after December 2030 ⁵ ‘Intentionally added’ means lead added to aluminum or brass cookware, cookware components, or utensils that serves an intended function in the final product or in the manufacturing of the product or product part. This term excludes lead in recycled materials

Table 1

It is important to note that the language in SB 5975 may be amended during its passage in the legislature.

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