Washington PFAS Rule: Car Wash Ban, Wax Reporting

Washington's Safer Products for Washington rule (Chapter 173-337 WAC) creates two separate obligations for automotive wax and wash manufacturers, both tied to January 2027. 

Automotive Wax: Reporting Required 

If you manufacture automotive wax products sold in Washington, you must report concentrations of intentionally added PFAS to the Washington Department of Ecology. The reporting period opened Jan. 1, 2026. Reports are due on January 31, 2027, and every Jan. 31 thereafter. Start identifying and tracking PFAS in your covered products now if you haven't already. 

Ecology presumes intentional PFAS addition if total fluorine exceeds 50 ppm. You can rebut that presumption by submitting a letter to Ecology with credible evidence that PFAS wasn't intentionally added. 

Automotive Wash: Sale Ban 

Manufacture, sale, and distribution of automotive wash products containing intentionally added PFAS is prohibited starting Jan. 1, 2027. This is a restriction, not a reporting obligation. If your wash products contain PFAS above the threshold, reformulate or pull the product from the Washington market before that date. 

How to Report 

Submit wax product reports through the High Priority Chemicals Data System (HPCDS), maintained by the Interstate Chemical Clearinghouse (IC2). First-time users need to create an account before submitting. 

Start here: https://www.theic2.org/hpcds/ 

Questions? 

Contact the Auto Care Association Government Affairs team. Grant MacIntyre leads the association's PFAS policy and compliance work.