California Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was passed with the intention of protecting consumers from exposure to chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. One of the key components of this act is the warning label requirement, which has evolved over the years to better inform consumers and promote public health.
As mentioned in our Safeguard (SG 97/24), California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) introduced certain modifications to the proposal in response to comments received on the original proposal on June 13, 2024. Highlights of the currently proposed modifications are shown in the adjacent table.
Requirement per modified proposal:
- Three years transition period to comply with new short-form warning label requirements after the proposal's enactment
- Current short form doesn't need to show chemical name in warning label. According to draft at least one chemical name must be included into short form of warning label. Besides the Warning content are also different from before.
- "Cancer Risk From [Name of one or more chemicals known to cause cancer] Exposure - http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov"
- "Risk of Reproductive Harm From [Name of one or more chemicals known to cause reproductive toxicity] Exposure - http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov"
- "Risk of Cancer From [Name of one or more chemicals known to cause cancer] And Reproductive Harm From [Name of one or more chemicals known to cause reproductive toxicity] Exposure - http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov"
- 'Risk of Cancer and Reproductive Harm From [Name of one or more chemicals known to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity] Exposure - http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov'
HOW CAN SGS HELP?
Through our Prop 65 evaluation screening program, we:
- Check your merchandise for high-risk chemicals before it leaves the distribution center for the California market
- Provide you with real-time results on your final product, so you can avoid distribution delays
- Keep you informed of the latest changes to Proposition 65 and update you on what you need to do to remain compliant
SGS' California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) services offer your organization analytical testing and consultancy services to evaluate your products for composition and to recommend a pathway to compliance.
Please contact our Customer Service Team for more information!