Substance group
What counts as Ortho-phthalates?
2 markets define Ortho-phthalates, and they don't all agree. Read each definition below. You tell us if your product contains it; we never guess from its name.
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Group
Definitions
Ortho-phthalates” means any member of the class of organic chemicals that are esters of phthalic acid containing two carbon chains located in the ortho position.
"Ortho-phthalates" means esters of ortho-phthalic acid.
- Definition
- Ortho-phthalates means any member of the class of organic chemicals that are esters of phthalic acid containing two carbon chains located in the ortho position.
- Listed members
- Defined by structure; no member list
- Source
Ortho-phthalates” means any member of the class of organic chemicals that are esters of phthalic acid containing two carbon chains located in the ortho position.
9 V.S.A. 2494w(5) · fetched 2026-10-08Vermont Legislature / Attorney General: 9 V.S.A. 2494w(5)(opens in a new tab)
- Definition
- Ortho-phthalates means esters of ortho-phthalic acid
- Listed members
- Defined by structure; no member list
- Source
"Ortho-phthalates" means esters of ortho-phthalic acid.
RCW 70A.560.010(4) · fetched 2026-10-09Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser): RCW 70A.560.010(4)(opens in a new tab)
Rules
Rules that use these definitions
3 rules.
Banned
Exemptions (1)
A technically unavoidable trace quantity from impurities of natural or synthetic ingredients, the manufacturing process, storage or migration from packaging is not a violation (made through manufacturing processes intended to comply)
“containing a technically unavoidable trace quantity of a chemical or chemical class listed in subsection (a) of this section shall not be in violation of this subchapter”
Unofficial copy of the text, current to 30 May 2024. Wayback Machine copy of the Vermont Legislature's Act 131 PDF (signed 2024-05-30); amended by Act 54 of 2025, and the current 9 V.S.A. ch. 63 text is not stored.
Every product in the category
In force since 1 Jan 2026
Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2026
Act 131 Sec. 13 (as stored): Sec. 1 takes effect January 1, 2026.
“or distribute for use in this State any cosmetic or menstrual product to which the following chemicals or chemical classes have been intentionally added in any amount:”
Banned
Exemptions (1)
The prohibition does not apply to the sale or resale of used products.
“This section shall not apply to the sale or resale of used products.”
Unofficial copy of the text, current to 30 May 2024. Wayback Machine copy of the Vermont Legislature's Act 131 PDF (signed 2024-05-30); amended by Act 54 of 2025, and the current 9 V.S.A. ch. 63 text is not stored.
Every product in the category
In force since 1 Jan 2026
Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2026
Act 131 Sec. 13: "(1) Sec. 1 (chemicals in cosmetic and menstrual products), Sec. 3 (PFAS in consumer products), Sec. 6 (PFAS in firefighting agents and equipment), and Sec. 7 (chemicals of concern in food packaging) shall take effect on January 1, 2026;" The AG may postpone a compliance date up to one year on a manufacturer showing (Sec. 11). Citations are to Act 131 as enacted; Act 54 of 2025 (not in the law text used here) renumbered and amended some sections per the AG guidance.
“pigments, adhesives, stabilizers, coatings, plasticizers, or any other additives to which ortho-phthalates have been intentionally added and are present in any amount.”
Banned
Exemptions (2)
In-state retailer may sell existing stock until January 1, 2026
“An in-state retailer in possession of cosmetic products on the date that restrictions on the sale of the products takes effect under this section may exhaust its existing stock through sales to the public until January 1, 2026.”
Prescription drugs approved by FDA are not cosmetic products; ingredients regulated as drugs are outside the restrictions
“(7)(a) For the purposes of this section, cosmetic products do not include prescription drugs approved by the United States food and drug administration.”
Official text, current to 9 Oct 2026. Washington Code Reviser's own RCW pages; the date is when it was read (no version date is printed in it).
Every product in the category
In force since 1 Jan 2025
Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2025
“beginning January 1, 2025, no person may manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in this state any cosmetic product that contains any of the following intentionally added chemicals or chemical classes: (a) Ortho-phthalates;”
- BanUS-VTOrtho-phthalates as defined in Vermont (US state)
Banned
Exemptions (1)
A technically unavoidable trace quantity from impurities of natural or synthetic ingredients, the manufacturing process, storage or migration from packaging is not a violation (made through manufacturing processes intended to comply)
“containing a technically unavoidable trace quantity of a chemical or chemical class listed in subsection (a) of this section shall not be in violation of this subchapter”
9 V.S.A. 2494b(b) (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-08Vermont Legislature / Attorney General: 9 V.S.A. ch. 63 subch. 12(opens in a new tab) Unofficial copy of the text, current to 30 May 2024. Wayback Machine copy of the Vermont Legislature's Act 131 PDF (signed 2024-05-30); amended by Act 54 of 2025, and the current 9 V.S.A. ch. 63 text is not stored.
- Applies when
Every product in the category
- Effective
In force since 1 Jan 2026
Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2026
Act 131 Sec. 13 (as stored): Sec. 1 takes effect January 1, 2026.
- Source
“or distribute for use in this State any cosmetic or menstrual product to which the following chemicals or chemical classes have been intentionally added in any amount:”
9 V.S.A. 2494b(a)(1) (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-08Vermont Legislature / Attorney General: 9 V.S.A. ch. 63 subch. 12(opens in a new tab)
- BanUS-VTOrtho-phthalates as defined in Vermont (US state)
Banned
Exemptions (1)
The prohibition does not apply to the sale or resale of used products.
“This section shall not apply to the sale or resale of used products.”
9 V.S.A. 2494x(d) · fetched 2026-10-08Vermont Legislature / Attorney General: 9 V.S.A. ch. 63, subch. 12a and 12c(opens in a new tab) Unofficial copy of the text, current to 30 May 2024. Wayback Machine copy of the Vermont Legislature's Act 131 PDF (signed 2024-05-30); amended by Act 54 of 2025, and the current 9 V.S.A. ch. 63 text is not stored.
- Applies when
Every product in the category
- Effective
In force since 1 Jan 2026
Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2026
Act 131 Sec. 13: "(1) Sec. 1 (chemicals in cosmetic and menstrual products), Sec. 3 (PFAS in consumer products), Sec. 6 (PFAS in firefighting agents and equipment), and Sec. 7 (chemicals of concern in food packaging) shall take effect on January 1, 2026;" The AG may postpone a compliance date up to one year on a manufacturer showing (Sec. 11). Citations are to Act 131 as enacted; Act 54 of 2025 (not in the law text used here) renumbered and amended some sections per the AG guidance.
- Source
“pigments, adhesives, stabilizers, coatings, plasticizers, or any other additives to which ortho-phthalates have been intentionally added and are present in any amount.”
9 V.S.A. 2494x(c) (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-08Vermont Legislature / Attorney General: 9 V.S.A. ch. 63, subch. 12a and 12c(opens in a new tab)
- BanUS-WAOrtho-phthalates as defined in Washington (US state)
Banned
Exemptions (2)
In-state retailer may sell existing stock until January 1, 2026
“An in-state retailer in possession of cosmetic products on the date that restrictions on the sale of the products takes effect under this section may exhaust its existing stock through sales to the public until January 1, 2026.”
RCW 70A.560.020(3) · fetched 2026-10-09Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser): RCW 70A.560(opens in a new tab) Prescription drugs approved by FDA are not cosmetic products; ingredients regulated as drugs are outside the restrictions
“(7)(a) For the purposes of this section, cosmetic products do not include prescription drugs approved by the United States food and drug administration.”
RCW 70A.560.020(7) · fetched 2026-10-09Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser): RCW 70A.560(opens in a new tab) Official text, current to 9 Oct 2026. Washington Code Reviser's own RCW pages; the date is when it was read (no version date is printed in it).
- Applies when
Every product in the category
- Effective
In force since 1 Jan 2025
Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2025
- Source
“beginning January 1, 2025, no person may manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in this state any cosmetic product that contains any of the following intentionally added chemicals or chemical classes: (a) Ortho-phthalates;”
70A.560.020(1)(a) (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-09Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser): RCW 70A.560(opens in a new tab)
See also
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