SGS Informs You on the Recent Settlements of California Prop 65

HONG KONG - Nov. 19, 2013 - PRLog -- California Proposition 65 for Consumer Product Safety

California’s Proposition 65 is now over 25 years old and has been effective in reducing exposures to toxic chemicals. It allows California residents to eliminate carcinogens and reprotoxic chemicals from consumer products and industrial activities.  Persons doing business with ten or more employees, unless otherwise exempted, may not expose individuals to chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving a clear and reasonable warning, nor discharge such chemicals into drinking water. Warnings for consumer products can either be located directly on the label of the product or displayed prominently near the products in the store (Table 1 within the latest SafeGuardS bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-19313-california-prop-65-recent-settlements-a4-en-13.pdf )).

Prop 65 to Identify Toxic Chemicals

Prop 65 applies to a current list of more than 800 chemicals identified by the state of California as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity. The list contains a wide range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals.  Examples of listed chemicals include heavy metals (e.g. lead, cadmium and nickel) and organic chemicals (e.g. phthalates such as BBP, DBP, DEHP, DIDP and DnHP) and flame retardants (e.g. tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate [TCEP], tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate [TDBPP] and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate [TDCPP]).

Of the 850 or so listed chemicals, lead-containing consumer products have been consistently targeted over the years. In the last few years, cadmium, phthalates and TDCPP have also been consistently targeted.

Since the beginning of 2013, a number of Prop 65 settlements have been reached for a variety of products, including but not limited to: adhesive plastic bandages, coffee filter separators, detergents, disposable razors, garden tools, guest book holders, magnets, polyurethane foam-cushioned pads, polyurethane foam-cushioned furniture, steering wheel covers and sunglasses (2). Selected consent agreements on lead, phthalates and propane reformulations and/or warning requirements in a range of consumer products are summarized in Table 2 within the latest SafeGuardS bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/0...).

References:

(1) Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) - Proposition 65(http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html)

(2) SafeGuardS No. 086/13 May 2013 and references therein (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/0...)

SafeGuardS No. 177/13 September 2013 and references therein (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-17713-california-prop-65-flame-retardants-a4-en-13.pdf)

About SGS Services for Proposition 65

Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy, in consumer products for compliance with Prop 65 (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Cosmetics-Personal-Care-and-Household/Cosmetics-and-Personal-Care/California-Proposition-65.aspx) and worldwide requirements.

Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS experts for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
HingWo Tsang
TJP Information and Innovation Manager
SGS Hong Kong Ltd.
1/F On Wui Centre
25 Lok Yip Road
Fanling, NT, Hong Kong , China

t: +852 2774 7420
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: http://www.sgs.com/en/Sustainability.aspx

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 75 000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1 500 offices and laboratories around the world.