Overview

Title

To require certain products to be labeled with Do Not Flush labeling, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

Some products like wipes must have a "Do Not Flush" label so people know not to put them in the toilet, helping to keep pipes and the environment safe. The label rules make sure everyone across the country follows the same guidelines.

Summary AI

H.R. 2269, also known as the "Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act" or the "WIPPES Act," requires that certain disposable wipes sold in the United States be labeled with "Do Not Flush" warnings. The bill mandates specific labeling requirements for various types of packaging to ensure the warning is clearly visible to consumers. It prohibits representations suggesting these products can be flushed and assigns the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the regulations. Additionally, it preempts state laws with differing requirements, ensuring uniformity in labeling across the country.

Published

2025-03-21
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-03-21
Package ID: BILLS-119hr2269ih

Keywords AI

do not flush labeling wippes act federal trade commission wastewater infrastructure environmental safety preemption of state laws labeling requirements product packaging consumer protection enforcement

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
2,095
Pages:
11
Sentences:
40

Language

Nouns: 624
Verbs: 174
Adjectives: 139
Adverbs: 34
Numbers: 47
Entities: 88

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.27
Average Sentence Length:
52.38
Token Entropy:
5.17
Readability (ARI):
28.51

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The proposed legislation, known as the "Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act" or "WIPPES Act," seeks to address issues related to the improper disposal of certain consumer products, particularly premoistened, nonwoven disposable wipes. These products are often flushed down toilets despite not being suitable for flushing, leading to significant problems for wastewater treatment systems. The bill mandates that these products be clearly labeled with a "Do Not Flush" message and symbol, outlining specific guidelines for label placement and visibility based on packaging types. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these regulations, and the bill preempts any conflicting state laws.

Summary of Significant Issues

The bill raises several issues that merit consideration:

  • Cost Implications: The requirement for "Do Not Flush" labeling might impose additional costs on manufacturers, potentially increasing product prices for consumers. There is also no clear indication that these measures will effectively address the environmental concerns they aim to solve.

  • Preemption of State Laws: By overriding any differing state regulations, the bill may conflict with states that have more stringent environmental rules, raising federalism concerns.

  • Label Visibility and Compliance: Terms like "reasonable visibility" and "high contrast" are somewhat subjective, potentially leading to disputes over compliance and enforcement challenges.

  • Packaging Requirements: Detailed requirements for different packaging types may inadvertently favor certain designs or create unintended loopholes. For example, smaller product packages may be exempt from certain labeling requirements, which could be exploited to avoid compliance.

Broad Public Impact

The legislation aims to mitigate environmental and infrastructural problems caused by inappropriate disposal of wipes and similar products. If successful, it could reduce sewer blockages and improve wastewater treatment efficiency, potentially leading to lower public maintenance costs and improved environmental outcomes. However, the added manufacturing costs could increase product prices, impacting consumers, especially those who rely on these wipes for personal or household care.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

  • Manufacturers: Companies producing these wipes will face the immediate burden of compliance with labeling requirements, which could increase production costs. Depending on their size and resources, some manufacturers may struggle more than others to meet these new standards.

  • Retailers: Retail settings need to ensure that all products comply before sale, necessitating additional oversight and potentially affecting their stock availability and product pricing.

  • Consumers: While aiming to protect public infrastructure and the environment, the bill might lead to higher costs for consumers due to increased product prices passed down from manufacturers. It may also result in reduced availability of certain products if retailers face compliance challenges.

  • Environmental and Regulatory Agencies: Agencies like the FTC, EPA, and potentially the FDA need to coordinate efficiently to implement and enforce the regulations, which might strain resources and delay enforcement if not managed effectively.

Overall, while the bill targets an identifiable environmental and infrastructural issue, its implementation poses challenges that need careful consideration to balance regulatory goals with economic impacts.

Issues

  • The requirement for 'Do Not Flush' labeling may impose additional costs on manufacturers, which might be passed on to consumers, without evidence that it addresses a significant environmental issue. (Section 2)

  • The section preempts state laws, which may raise federalism concerns, particularly if certain states have more stringent environmental regulations that could be overridden. (Section 2(f))

  • The term 'high contrast' might be subjective and could lead to disputes over whether a product's labeling complies with the law. (Section 2(c)(1)(C))

  • Detailed packaging requirements might favor or disadvantage certain packaging types without clear evidence that it results in better compliance or benefit. (Section 2(b))

  • Enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission is specified, but penalties for non-compliance are not clearly defined, potentially leading to inconsistent enforcement. (Section 2(e))

  • The exemption for combined product packaging less than 3 inches by 3 inches might create a loophole for avoiding labeling requirements. (Section 2(b)(6)(B))

  • The requirement for consultation with multiple agencies (like the EPA or FDA) could result in bureaucratic delays in enforcement or regulatory changes. (Section 2(e)(3))

  • The section lacks clarity on what happens if the guidelines for the 'Do Not Flush' symbol are updated after a product has already been labeled. (Section 2(g)(9))

  • The section does not clarify what constitutes 'reasonable visibility', which can lead to inconsistent enforcement. (Section 2(c))

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of this act provides its short title, allowing it to be officially called the “Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act” or the “WIPPES Act.”

2. Do not flush labeling Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section requires companies to clearly label products, like wipes, with a "Do Not Flush" message and symbol if they might be mistakenly flushed down toilets. It sets specific rules for where and how the labels should be displayed on different types of packaging to ensure visibility, and it gives the Federal Trade Commission the power to enforce these rules while specifying that state laws cannot contradict these requirements.