What is California’s Proposition 65?
California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, now universally known as Proposition 65, is a law that applies only in the State of California. Proposition 65 mandates the publication of a list of chemicals that the State of California determines cause cancer or birth defects, and requires companies that sell products containing those chemicals to inform California residents about the risk of exposure by including a warning notice on the product label.
Since 1986, the two Proposition 65 lists have expanded to include more than 800 chemicals. Even if a chemical has not been shown to cause cancer or birth defects in humans but has been shown to do so in animal testing, the chemical is still required to be listed under Proposition 65.
Proposition 65 warning notices can be seen throughout California in settings such as restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, bars, schools, hospitals, and theme parks.
What Chemicals Are on the Proposition 65 Lists?
The two Proposition 65 lists encompass a wide range of both naturally occurring and man-made chemicals. Listed chemicals include those found in pesticides, insecticides, construction materials, and common household products like foods, drugs, alcoholic beverages, and nutritional supplements.
Some chemicals on the Proposition 65 list—such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic—are naturally found in the environment worldwide. Therefore, some products that naturally contain these substances may be required to carry a Proposition 65 warning notice, including mineral and botanical ingredients in nutritional supplements.
Are Other States Affected by Proposition 65?
Proposition 65 applies only in California. Any company that sells consumer goods in California—regardless of whether it is based in California—is subject to the warning notice requirements. Products sold in other states are not required to include a Proposition 65 warning notice.
Are Products with a Proposition 65 Warning Notice Unsafe?
Including a Proposition 65 warning notice on a product does not mean the product is unsafe. The warning is intended to inform California consumers of the presence of a Proposition 65-listed chemical so they can make informed purchasing decisions.
How Does Proposition 65 Determine Threshold Levels for Warning Notices?
Proposition 65 uses two criteria to determine exposure risk: one for cancer and one for birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Cancer Risk: The maximum daily exposure is defined by the "no significant risk level"—the amount of a chemical that would cause no more than one additional case of cancer in 100,000 people exposed to it daily for 70 years.
Reproductive Harm Risk: The threshold is based on the "no observable effect level"—the highest daily dose that causes no birth defects or reproductive harm in studies. This level is then divided by 1,000 as a margin of safety to set the warning threshold.
What is Evexia Doing Regarding Proposition 65?
Evexia methodically tests every raw ingredient and finished product for identity and purity. Every incoming raw ingredient is quarantined until it is tested and verified. As part of this process, raw materials are tested for chemicals listed under California’s Proposition 65.
If an Evexia product contains a naturally occurring chemical above Proposition 65’s threshold, an appropriate warning will be placed on the product label. However, any such amount will always remain within the U.S. Pharmacopeia guidelines for safe daily intake.
How Can I Learn More About Proposition 65?
For more information about Proposition 65, please visit: