Proposition 65 (CA Prop 65)

Proposition 65 is a California law passed in 1986, officially titled the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. It requires businesses to provide a 'clear and reasonable warning' on products to inform consumers that the product may contain chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. It mainly applies to products exported to California, USA, such as toys, electronics, food contact materials, textiles, etc. Notes: 1) Warning thresholds are much lower than federal standards, so companies need strict testing; 2) Warning labels have specific format requirements, e.g., 'WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer...'; 3) Violations can result in high fines (up to $2,500 per violation per day); 4) Unlike REACH, RoHS, etc., Prop 65 is a California local regulation and focuses more on warnings than bans, but in practice companies often choose to remove harmful substances to avoid warnings. Foreign trade practitioners must ensure products comply with Prop 65 requirements, otherwise they may face lawsuits or removal from shelves.