What is California Prop 65?
Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other
reproductive harm. These chemicals can be in the products that Californians purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment. By requiring that this information be provided, Proposition 65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about their exposures to these chemicals.
Who is required to display a Prop 65 Warning?
Proposition 65 requires companies to put this notice on their products if there is any ingredient that tests over 1/1000th of what the World Health Organization deems as “Safe Harbor Levels” of their list of chemicals, which includes some naturally occurring minerals. While many countries and states rely on federal governing bodies to set these levels in place, California has created their own law and stipulations that companies must adhere to if they plan to do business in the state of California. No other state or country enforces Proposition 65 law aside from the state of California.
When a company includes a Proposition 65 warning notice on a product page or label, it does not mean the product is unsafe. The warning notice is included to inform California consumers of the presence of a Proposition 65-listed chemical so the consumer can make an informed decision when purchasing the product.
It is important to note that heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury do occur naturally in the soil and water. As plants grow, they pull nutrients from the soil and water, including trace amounts of some naturally-occurring heavy metals.
For information about Proposition 65 go to http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html
