You may have seen this warning on various products:
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including arsenic, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
What is California Prop 65?
Formerly known as Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, Proposition 65 requires the publication of a list of chemicals that the State of California determines causes cancer or birth defects. They also require companies that sell products that contain those chemicals to inform California residents about the risk of exposure to such chemicals by including a warning notice on the product label, or to inform the customer in an approved way before purchase. Proposition 65 warning notices can be seen all throughout California in restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, bars, schools, hospitals, and amusement parks.
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.
For information about Proposition 65 go to http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html
