Chemical Legislation in Rhode Island
Toxic Packaging Reduction Act
Rhode Island restricts the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium in packaging. The law prohibits the offer for sale of packages, packaging components, and products in packaging containing these four substances in any concentration, if intentionally added. The law also limits the total concentration of all four substances when incidentally present in packages and packaging components to 100 ppm by weight.
R.I. GEN. LAWS § 23-18.13-1 et. seq.
Hazardous Chemicals – Contamination of Breast Milk and the Environment
In 2006, Rhode Island enacted a law restricting the manufacture and distribution of flame retardants containing pentaBDE or octaBDE. Effective January 1, 2007, a person may not manufacture, process, or distribute in commerce a product or a flame-retardant part of a product containing more than 0.1% of pentaBDE or octaBDE.
R.I. GEN. LAWS § 23-13.4-1 et seq.
Mercury Reduction and Education Act
Rhode Island prohibits the sale, use, or distribution for promotional purposes of mercury-added products without prior notification in writing by the manufacturer of the product, or its industry trade group, to the director in accordance with the requirements of this section. Such notification must at a minimum include: (1) a brief description of the product to be offered for sale, use, or distribution; (2) the amount of and purpose for mercury in each unit of the product; (3) the total amount of mercury contained in all products manufactured by the manufacturer; and (4) the name and address of the manufacturer, and the name, address and phone number of a contact. This statute also requires labeling of mercury-added products; prohibits the sale and promotional distribution of mercury-added novelties, mercury fever thermometers, and mercury-added cell batteries for consumer use or products for consumer use that contain mercury-added button cell batteries; and requires that manufacturers have collection programs for all mercury-added products offered for sale in Rhode Island.
R.I. GEN. LAWS § 23-24.9-1 et seq.