As mentioned in our Safeguard (SG 177/24), the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved proposed amendments by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to its safe harbour warning methods. The approved amendment will revise various sections of the warning methods under Article 6 to Chapter 1 of Division 4 of Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations.
The most significant change relates to the information displayed on the short-form warning label. Following the amendment, at least one chemical must be listed for both the long-form and short-form warning labels. The OEHHA introduced this update to make short-form warning labels more informative to consumers.
The amendment will become effective January 1, 2025 and the updated short-form warning content will become mandatory on January 1, 2028, providing a transition period of three years.
Products labelled with existing short-form warnings during the transition period may continue to be sold indefinitely without needing re-labelling, reducing disruption to existing inventory. Companies doing business in California, USA, need to be aware of and comply with such updates.
Amendments to California Proposition 65, Article 6 Clear and Reasonable Warnings, Sub-Article 2 Safe Harbor Methods and Content
| Exposure endpoint(s) | Modified warning content for short term warnings |
|---|---|
| For exposures to listed carcinogens | WARNING: Cancer risk from exposure to [name of chemical]. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov; or |
| WARNING: Can expose you to [name of chemical], a carcinogen. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov | |
| For exposures to listed reproductive toxicants | WARNING: Risk of reproductive harm from exposure to [name of chemical]. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov; or |
| WARNING: Can expose you to [name of chemical], a reproductive toxicant. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov | |
| For exposures to both listed carcinogens and reproductive toxicants | WARNING: Risk of cancer from exposure to [name of chemical] and reproductive harm from exposure to [name of chemical]. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov; or |
| WARNING: Can expose you to [name of chemical], a carcinogen, and [name of chemical], a reproductive toxicant. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov | |
| For exposures to a chemical that is listed as both a carcinogen and a reproductive toxicant | WARNING: Risk of cancer and reproductive harm from exposure to [name of chemical]. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov; or |
| WARNING: Can expose you to [name of chemical], a carcinogen and reproductive toxicant. See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov |
How can SGS help?
Our California Proposition 65 services offer your organization analytical testing and consultancy services to evaluate your products for composition and to recommend a pathway to Prop 65 compliance. Through our Prop 65 evaluation screening program, we:
- Check your merchandise for high-risk chemicals before it leaves the distribution center for the California market
- Provide you with real-time results on your final product, so you can avoid distribution delays
- Keep you informed of the latest changes to Proposition 65 and update you on what you need to do to remain compliant
SGS’ California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) services offer your organization analytical testing and consultancy services to evaluate your products for composition and to recommend a pathway to compliance.
For enquiries, please contact our Customer Service team for details!
To obtain a copy in PDF version, please click here.
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,700 laboratories and business facilities across 119 countries, supported by a team of 99,250 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, safety and compliance.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and sustainability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH0002497458, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).
Units 303 & 305, 3/F, Building 22E,
Phase 3, Hong Kong Science Park,
Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong, China