🇺🇸 Washington State bans 25 formaldehyde-releasing substances, a first among US states
1 Jan 2027 · Washington State, U.S. · Confidence: Secondary (authoritative)
What happens
Under WAC 173-339-110, 25 formaldehyde-releasing substances will be banned in cosmetics. The list includes DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea and bronopol, which are widely used as low-cost preservatives in products such as cotton pads, wet wipes and sheet-mask essences, so these categories are the most affected. A new definition of 'intentionally added' takes effect on the same date.
What to do
Products sold in Washington State, and products using a single US-wide formula, should switch preservative systems before 1 January 2027 (alternatives include phenoxyethanol with ethylhexylglycerin, caprylyl glycol and hydroxyacetophenone). Preservative changes involve formulation and stability work with long lead times, so brands and manufacturers should start early.
Source
WAC 173-339-110
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