Beginning on page 2, line 17, after "(1)" strike all material through "component." on page 4, line 2 and insert "To determine whether safer alternatives to PFAS chemicals exist, the department of ecology must conduct an alternatives assessment as part of the PFAS chemical action plan that:
(a) Evaluates less toxic chemicals and nonchemical alternatives to replace the use of a chemical in a specific food packaging application;
(b) Follows the guidelines for alternatives assessments issued by the interstate chemicals clearinghouse; and
(c) Includes, at a minimum, an evaluation of chemical hazards, exposure, performance, cost, and availability.
(2) A safer alternative determination under subsection (1) of this section must be supported by feedback from an external peer review of the department's alternatives assessment.
(3) By January 1, 2020, the department of ecology must publish its findings in the Washington State Register on whether safer alternatives to PFAS chemicals in specific applications of food packaging are available and submit a report with the findings and the feedback from the peer review of the department's alternatives assessment to the appropriate committees of the legislature.
(4) The department of ecology should bring forward agency request legislation suggesting a ban when they have identified multiple, readily available, economical, safer alternatives to PFAS chemicals in a specific application of food packaging."
EFFECT: Removes the restrictions on PFAS in specific food packaging applications that would be effective two years after the department of ecology identifies a safer alternative. Requires the department of ecology's alternatives assessment to be part of the PFAS chemical action plan and to receive external peer review feedback, and for that feedback to be included in the report to the legislature alongside the department's safer alternatives determination. Encourages the department of ecology to bring agency request legislation suggesting a ban on PFAS in food packaging once multiple, readily-available, economical, safer alternatives to PFAS in a specific food packaging application have been identified. Eliminates requirements that manufacturers of food packaging develop a certificate denoting compliance with prohibitions on PFAS in food packaging.