New York is set to become the first US state to require cleaning product manufacturers to publicly disclose ingredients and to identify chemicals of concern used in formulations

The state is introducing the Household Cleansing Product Information Disclosure programme. The state's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released a draft certification form and guidance document for public consultation.

The draft calls for manufacturers of covered household cleaning products – which include soaps and detergents used for cleaning fabrics, dishes and other purposes – to disclose on their websites a list of all ingredients, including those present in trace quantities. Substances should be listed in descending order of quantity, with each one's content by weight and functional role indicated.

The rule proposes allowing certain exclusions for protection of confidential business information (CBI), including for fragrance ingredients.

A separate provision would also require manufacturers to identify the presence of any 'chemicals of concern'. These include substances found on any of 16 state-identified 'authoritative lists' or those with certain hazard characteristics. They include:

• - Those identified by the US EPA as chemicals of concern, PBTs, priority chemicals, or ozone-depleting substances.
• - The EU Endocrine Disruptor list and list of substances of very high concern (SVHCs).
• - Substances listed as reproductive toxicants or carcinogens under California’s Proposition 65.
• - Chemicals classified as a group 1, 2a or 2b by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
• - Those ingredients classified under the GHS as skin or eye irritants, respiratory or skin sensitisers, mutagens or aquatic toxicants.