New Rule Prohibits the Use of Formaldehyde Releasers in Cosmetics in the State of Washington

SafeGuardSCosmetics & Personal Care, Cosmetics and Personal Care News and SafeguardSSeptember 17, 2025

SG 141/25

The State of Washington, USA, has adopted new rules restricting formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in cosmetic products, effective 2027.

The State of Washington, on August 28, 2025, adopted a new Chapter 173-399 WAC: Cosmetic Products Restriction in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), restricting the manufacture, sale and distribution of cosmetic products in the state that contain intentionally added formaldehyde and chemicals that release formaldehyde. This restriction applies to cosmetic products used in services, sold online or in physical stores.

In this rule, 25 formaldehyde-releasing chemicals (formaldehyde releasers) are identified and restricted when they are intentionally added into cosmetic products. (see table below).

The new rule will be enforced on September 28, 2025, while the restriction becomes effective on January 1, 2027.

Retailers in the state can sell existing stock possessed on the date of the restriction until January 1, 2028.

Item	Chemical name	CAS RN
1	DMDM Hydantoin	6440-58-0
2	Diazolidinyl Urea	78491-02-8
3	Imidazolidinyl Urea	39236-46-9
4	Quaternium-15	4080-31-3; 51229-78-8
5	Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin (PTSAF)	25035-71-6
6	2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol (Bronopol)	52-51-7
7	Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate	70161-44-3
8	Polyoxymethylene Urea	9011-05-6; 68611-64-3
9	Polyoxymethylene Melamine	9003-08-1
10	5-Bromo-5-Nitro-1,3-Dioxane (Bronidox)	30007-47-7
11	7-Ethylbicyclo-oxazolidine (Bioban CS1246)	7747-35-5
12	Benzylhemiformal/td>	14548-60-8
13	Dimethylhydantoin formaldehyde (DMHF)	26811-08-5; 9065-13-8
14	Dimethylol Glycol	3586-55-8
15	Dimethylol Urea	140-95-4
16	Dimethyl Oxazolidine	51200-87-4
17	MDM Hydantoin	116-25-6; 27636-82-4; 16228-00-5
18	Methenamine	100-97-0
19	Methylal	109-87-5
20	Paraformaldehyde	30525-89-4
21	Polyoxymethylene	9002-81-7
22	Tetramethylolglycoluril	5395-50-6
23	Timonacic (when used in heat-activated hair straighteners)	444-27-9
24	Tris-Hydroxymethylnitromethane	126-11-4
25	Urea, polymer with formaldehyde, isobutylated	68002-18-6

The Department of Ecology may evaluate product compliance under this rule by formulation review, product sampling or any other means with relevant information.

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