Washington has
become the first US state to mandate the requirement that certain disposable
wipes must carry a ‘Do Not Flush’ label.
Signed into law
in early 2020, the legislation covers premoistened wipes constructed from
nonwoven sheets and which are designed and marketed for use during:
- Diapering
- Personal hygiene
- Cleaning household hard surfaces
Products that
are excluded from the regulation include those that are designed or marketed for
cleaning or medicating the anorectal or vaginal areas on the human body. These
must be labeled:
- Flushable
- Sewer safe
- Septic safe
- Or have an indication that product is appropriate for disposal in a
toilet
Under the new
labeling requirements, the ‘Do Not Flush’ symbol, or a gender equivalent, must
be on the packaging. This is described in the INDA/EDANA code of practice 2.
The symbol must be displayed prominently, so that the consumer will see it every
time the product is used. It must also cover at least 2% of the surface area of
the principal display board, and must not be obscured by seams, folds, or other
design elements. Finally, it must also be printed in a way that is sufficiently
high contrast as to be readable.
The new law
requires compliance by July 1, 2022, with products that are regulated as
pesticides under the EPA’s Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA) having an additional year for compliance – until July 1, 2023. Products
that are manufactured before the effective date can be sold until January 1,
2023.
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State, USA, Introduces “Do Not Flush” Labeling Requirements SafeGuardS.
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