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  • Regulatory Update

Food Contact Materials: Washington State Bans Lead in Cookware

Effective January 1, 2026, cookware that contains lead at a level of more than 5 ppm shall be prohibited from being manufactured, sold, and distributed in Washington state. Learn more.

Large cooking pot.

June 14, 2024

Effective January 1, 2026, cookware that contains lead at a level of more than 5 ppm shall be prohibited from being manufactured, sold, and distributed in Washington state.

The regulation defines cookware as “any metal pots, pans, bakeware, pressure cookers, bakeware and other containers and devices intended for the preparation or storage of food.” In addition to the cookware, this regulation applies to components of cookware which are defined as “separate or distinct parts of the cookware including but not limited to, accessories such as libs, knobs, handles and handle assemblies, rivets, fasteners, valves, and vent pipes.

The law, signed by the governor on March 28, 2024, also empowers the Department of Ecology in consultation with the Department of Health to lower the 5 ppm5 ppm lead limit by rule aft December 2034 if it is feasible for cookware and cookware component manufacturers to achieve.

Official source

Washington State Legislature

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