Settlements Under California Proposition 65

HONG KONG, China - Jan. 29, 2016 - PRLog -- California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) [1] is the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’, a ballot initiative passed overwhelmingly by California residents in November 1986. Since its enactment, there have been numerous lawsuits, which resulted in the reduction of carcinogenic and reproductive chemicals by reformulations of consumer products containing such chemicals.

Prop 65 is now more than 29 years old and has been effective in reducing exposures to toxic chemicals. Of the 850 or so listed chemicals, consumer products [2] containing lead, phthalates and flame-retardants have been consistently targeted over the years.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been on the Prop 65 list of chemicals [3] since January 1988 as a chemical known to cause cancer. It was also listed as a chemical known to cause developmental and male reproductive toxicity in October 2003.

Update for Phthalates

In 2015, we informed you that there were a number of Prop 65 settlements for phthalates [4], including DEHP [5]. Since the second quarter of 2015, there have been a number of Prop 65 settlements requiring the reformulation of DEHP in a variety of products, including:

- Ratchet tie downs, riding crops
- Sporting clamps
- Vinyl/PVC-containing battery clamp cables, eye masks, hardware cloths, light covers, photo album covers, self-defense device holsters and traffic or safety cones

Some of these settlements also allow the use of a Prop 65 warning.

A Closer Look at the Recent Proposition 65 Settlements

A Prop 65 settlement is a consent agreement between the parties named in the settlement and a party not named in a settlement is not bound by that settlement.

Highlights of these settlements for DEHP are summarized in Table 1 (http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/News-and-Media-Center/N...):

References:

[1] Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment, Proposition 65 (http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html)

[2] Safeguards, California Prop 65 Reformulation of Chemicals in Consumer Products - April 15, 2015 (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-05615-cp-65-reformulation-chemicals-consumer-products-a4-en-15.pdf)

[3] The State of California Environmental Protection Agency, Chemicals know to the State to Cause Cancer of Reproductive Toxicity – December 4, 2015 (http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/files/P65single120415.pdf)

[4] Safeguards, California Proposition 65 Reformulation of Phthalates in Consumer Products – July 28, 2015 (http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/News-and-Media-Center/News-and-Press-Releases/2015/07/SafeGuardS-13315-California-Proposition-65-Reformulation-of-Phthalates-in-Consumer-Products.aspx)

[5] Safeguards, California Proposition 65 Reformulation of DEHP in Consumer Products - December 14, 2015 (http://www.sgs.com/en/Our-Company/News-and-Media-Center/News-and-Press-Releases/2015/12/SafeGuardS-21515-California-Proposition-65-Reformulation-of-DEHP-in-Consumer-Products-Part-1.aspx)

About SGS Services for the Consumer Goods and Retail Industry

Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS can offer comprehensive testing, product assessments and consultancy services related to California Proposition 65 (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Hardgoods/DIY-Tools-and-Hardware/California-Proposition-65.aspx) to assist in risk management in supply chains for consumer goods such as DIYs, electrical and electronics, hardgoods products, juvenile products, and textile & toy products.

For further information, please contact an SGS expert.

Website: http://www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

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 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world.