Toxic-Free Kids Program

Per Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 431A.258, manufacturers must provide Biennial Notices (reports) to OHA of children's products sold or offered for sale in Oregon that are covered by the Oregon Toxic-Free Kids Act (TFK Act) and contain High Priority Chemical(s) of Concern for Children’s Health  (HPCCCH) in the final product that are at or above de minimis. 

Per ORS 431A.253(5)(a) and (b), de minimis levels for all HPCCCH found as contaminants is at or above a concentration of 100 parts per million. [Reporting under the TFK Act is not required for products
containing HPCCCH below 100 ppm).] ORS 431A.253(4) defines 'contaminant' for the TFK Act. The de minimis for intentionally-added HPCCCH is the practical quantification limits (PQL). The PQLs for intentionally-added HPCCCH vary and may be found in OAR 333-016-2035 Exhibit A. 

Reports for children's products containing HPCCCHs at or above de minimis, which were sold or offered for sale in 2022 or 2023 were due January 31, 2024.

***Did you sell  or offer for sale products with HPCCCH in 2017 through 2023, but haven't yet reported?

You should report now to avoid enforcement  action by OHA.***

How to Report

See Frequently Asked Questions on Complying with the Biennial Notice Requirement/Reporting for the Toxic Free Kids Act and Due Dates and Important Points for the 2024 Reporting Period.

Have you removed HPCCCH(s) from children's products previously reported to OHA?

If your company has provided OHA notice of  children's products containing HPCCCH(s), but the HPCCCH(s) has been removed, this change must be reported to OHA per OAR 333-0160-2060(14). This must be done within 180 days of the change. See the  Form and instructions for making this report.

This reporting helps OHA avoid unnecessary enforcement actions.

Requesting Exemption from Notice Requirement (MCP)

For the 2024 Biennial Notice Period (i.e. children's products with HPCCCH(s) sold or offered for sale in Oregon in 2022 through 2023), manufacturers of children’s products and trade associations may submit a request to be exempt from reporting (Notice Requirement) per OAR 333-016-2060. This exemption is only available for children's products with HPCCCH as 'contaminants' (per ORS 431A.253(4)) at concentrations at or above 100 parts per million (ppm). 

• Exemption requests must be accompanied by a Manufacturing Control Program (MCP) as defined in OAR 333-16-2010.

• Exemption requests are not available for an 'intentionally added chemical' per ORS 431A.253.

• Exemption requests-MCPs must be submitted for products sold or offered for sale in Oregon in 2022 through 2023 on or before the Biennial Notice due date: January 31, 2024.
  

• MCPs should be developed in accordance with OAR  333-016-2070 Exemption from Notice Requirement. Please see Guidance for Manufacturing Control Program per OAR 333-016-2070.

• Manufacturers interested in requesting an Exemption from Notice Requirement for the 2024 Biennial Notice Period (i.e., sold or offered for sale in Oregon in 2022 through 2023) should contact OHA at toxicfreekids.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov

• Exemption requests previously approved by OHA do not need to be submitted again unless one or more of changes per OAR 333-016-2070(14) occur.   

OAR 333-016-3010 requires manufacturers that have made three Biennial Notices to remove or substitute HPCCCH(s) present at  de minimis in children's products that are:

• “Mouthable per ORS 431A.253;
• A children's cosmetic; or
• Made for, marketed for use by or marketed to children under three years of age.

• A Chemical Substitution (OAR 333-016-3020 and OAR 333-016-3030);                                             
• A Waiver (OAR 333-016-3040)
  
• An Exemption from Removal or Substitution Requirements (OAR 333-016-3015) 

Alternatives to Removal of HPCCCH and How to Send Requests to OHA

Manufacturers may request one or more of the following for products in the OAR 333-016-3010 subset:

• A Waiver from Removal or Substitution Requirement per OAR 333-016-3040.

• Applications must be accompanied by either an Quantitative Exposure Assessment (QEA) per OAR 333-016-3050 or an Alternatives Assessment (AA) per OAR333-016-3060.

• Guidance for a Quantitative Exposure Assessment (QEA) per OAR 333-016-3050 is available to assist in development of a QEA per OAR 333-016-3050. [A QEA is a required component of an AA, so the QEA Guidance applies to both.]
  

• Request Exemptions from Removal or Substitution Requirements per OAR 333-016-3015. Please see Guidance for Requesting Exemptions from Removal or Substitution Requirements per OAR 333-016-3015.

• Request Exemption from Notice Requirement (MCP). See text column to left. [This exemption is not available for product models affected by OAR 333-016-3010 after their 3rd Biennial Notice Period.]
  

• Amendment to a PREVIOUSLY Approved Exemption from Notice Requirement Request per OAR 333-016-3015.

• Request Chemical Substitution per OAR 333-016-3020 and OAR 333-016-3030.
  

Other Key Points:

• If you are unable to access OAR links, TFK rules, current as of 1.1.2024, are also found here.
  

• A manufacturer with 25 or fewer employees may apply for a two-year extension to meet the "removal or substitution requirements. This application must address requirements of OAR 333-016-3010(2) and sent to toxicfreekids.program@oha.oregon.gov

• Children's products that don't fit criteria in OAR 333-016-3010(1) are not affected by its removal or substitution requirements.
  

• However, those products (right above), if sold or offered for sale in Oregon, must continue to be reported per OAR 333-016-2060 as long as they contain HPCCCHs at or above de minimis unless OHA has approved an Exemption from Notice Requirement (MCP) for them per OAR 333-016-2070.
  

• Would you like updates on rule changes and reminders on compliance due dates? Please send your name and company name (if applicable) to: toxicfreekids.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov