Skip to main content

PROP 65

What is Proposition 65?

In November 1986, California voters approved Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

The statute reads:

“No person in the course of doing business shall knowingly discharge or release a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity into water or onto or into land where such chemical passes or probably will pass into any source of drinking water…” (CA Health and Safety Code, Section 25249.5)

“No person in the course of doing business shall knowingly and intentionally expose any individual to a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving a clear and reasonable warning…” (CA Health and Safety Code, Section 25249.6)

What does Proposition 65 require?

Proposition 65 requires the Governor to publish a list of chemicals that are known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, and to update this list at least once a year. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) maintains the list of chemicals regulated under Proposition 65. (CA Code of Regulations, Title 27, Section 27001)

Under Proposition 65, businesses are required to give a “clear and reasonable” warning before knowingly exposing anyone to a listed chemical above a specified level. Reliance Worldwide Corporation has chosen to label all of their products as follows:

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Lead (Pb), which is [are] known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

What types of chemicals are on the Proposition 65 list?

The list contains a wide range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals that include additives or ingredients in pesticides, common household products, food, drugs, dyes, or solvents. Listed chemicals may also be used in manufacturing and construction, or they may be byproducts of chemical processes, such as motor vehicle exhaust. The full list can be found at oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list.

Are your products safe to use?

Reliance Worldwide Corporation’s products conform to all federal government regulations and national product standards, including the NSF/ANSI 61 standard for toxicity and the NSF/ANSI 372 standard for verification of “lead free”.

Proposition 65 is a “right to know” law based on the notion that members of the public in the state of California have a right to know when they are being exposed to listed carcinogens or reproductive toxins. The law was designed to allow individual consumers and their families to decide for themselves whether to assume the chemical exposure risks of purchasing particular products or frequenting particular premises.

Where can I get more information?

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) administers the Proposition 65 program. OEHHA, which is part of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), determines in many cases whether chemicals meet the scientific and legal requirements for placement on the Proposition 65 list, and administers regulations that govern warnings and other aspects of Proposition 65.

If you have specific questions on the administration or implementation of Proposition 65, you can contact OEHHA’s Proposition 65 program at [email protected], or by phone at (916) 445-6900.

For additional information, visit www.p65warnings.ca.gov.