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Committee approves revised cookware lead limits, phases lower standard to 2028
Summary
The committee adopted a full rewrite striking amendment to Senate Bill 5,628 that set an initial 90 parts-per-million (ppm) lead limit for certain metal cookware in 2026, phased to 10 ppm in 2028, narrowed the rule to aluminum and brass cookware and moved rulemaking flexibility to the Department of Ecology; committee reported the bill 16-5.
On March 20, 2025 the House Environment & Energy Committee adopted striking amendment H2056.2 to Senate Bill 5,628 and reported the bill out of committee with a due-pass recommendation on a roll-call vote of 16 ayes and 5 nays.
Under the adopted striking amendment, the allowable lead level in covered cookware will be 90 parts per million beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and will decrease to 10 ppm beginning Jan. 1, 2028. The striker narrows applicability to metal cookware made of aluminum or brass and removes a prior requirement that the Department of Ecology issue guidance to manufacturers. The striker also preserves Ecology’s existing Safer Products for Washington authority by specifying that the statute does not limit Ecology’s authority under that separate program.
Sponsor and committee discussion emphasized compromise between public-health goals and industry feasibility. Representative Street, who said staff and stakeholders had worked to balance industry and public-health concerns, told the committee the revisions "landed in a place where we won't see safe items banned. We will take off the market items that are unsafe." Representative Dye acknowledged the work but said he expected continued debate and signaled a mixed vote from his members.
After adopting the striking amendment, the committee voted on the amended bill; staff announced the final tally as 16 ayes, 5 nays and the measure was reported out with a due-pass as amended recommendation.
