What is California Proposition 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.
Proposition 65 became law in November 1986, when California voters approved it by a 63-37 percent margin. The official name of Proposition 65 is the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.
Proposition 65 prohibits California businesses from knowingly discharging significant amounts of listed chemicals into sources of drinking water.
Proposition 65 requires California to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. This list, which must be updated at least once a year, has grown to include approximately 900 chemicals since it was first published in 1987.The list contains a wide range of chemicals, including phthalates, dyes, solvents, pesticides, drugs, food additives, byproducts of certain processes, or specialty chemicals used in industrial applications and may be naturally occurring or synthetic. The list is updated quarterly.
View the list HERE. Visit the Prop 65 Website HERE
Prop 65 applies to retail, mail order or internet sales of products in California.