G/TBT/N/USA/1810  
9 December 2021  
(21-9214) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  State of 
Washington  
2. Agency responsible:  Department of Ecology, State of Washington [1839]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [   ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other  [X]:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  
Postconsumer recycled (PCR) content program; Environmental protection (ICS 13.020), 
Plastics (ICS 83.080), Rubber and plastics products (ICS 83.140)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Postconsumer 
Recycl ed Content For Plastic Containers (2 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Preproposal Statement of Inquiry / Possible Rule Making - This 
rule making establishes a postconsumer recycled (PCR) content program for covered 
products. This also prepa res an annual workload analysis identifying agency cost to be 
incurred to implement, administer and enforce the law, and offer the analysis for public 
comment.   Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the  new rule and 
formulation of the  proposed rule before publication and can stay informed about the rule 
making and public involvement opportunities by periodically visiting the Department of 
Ecology's Webpage on the 2021 plastics law at  
https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste -Toxics/Reducing -recycling -waste/Waste -reduction -
programs/Plastics/2021 -plastic -pollution -laws. 
WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to share feedback and comments on this 
Preproposal Statement of Inquiry / Possible Rule Making with the USA WTO TBT Enquiry 
Point by e -mail so that comments c an be shared with the regulator as well as US trade 
authorities.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:  Vol. 21, Issue 22, Washington State Register 17 No vember 2021:  
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2021/22/21 -22.htm  
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsrpdf/2021/22/21 -22-111.pdf  G/TBT/N/USA/1810  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Washington State's Recycled Content Minimums:  https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste -
Toxics/Reducing -recycling -waste/Waste -reduction -programs/Plastics/2021 -plastic -
pollution -laws/Recycled -conte nt-minimums  
Washington Department of Ecology Plastics Website: https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste -
Toxics/Reducing -recycling -waste/Waste -reduction -programs/Plastics  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  None 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/USA/21_7628_00_e.pdf