CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

USA: California lists three new substances under Proposition 65

January 2018- Relevant for: Electrical & electronics, Hardlines, Softlines, Toys and children's products

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) recently published the notices to list three new chemicals under the Safe Drinking Water Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly known as “Proposition 65”, as known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

The three new chemicals are summarised in the following.

Chlorpyrifos³ is organophosphate pesticide and n-Hexane⁴ is a widely used industrial solvent present in varnishes, cements, glues, and inks. For Vinylidene chloride (1,1-Dichloroethylene)⁵, it is generally used as comonomer in the polymerization of vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, acrylates and production of adhesives, fibers, refrigerants, food packaging and coating resins.

Businesses with 10 or more employees are required to provide a clear and reasonable warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing Californians to listed chemicals. The new warning regulations⁶ will become operative from 30 August 2018. In the interim, businesses may use either the existing warnings or the new ones.

[1] OEHHA lists Chlorpyrifos, n-Hexane under Proposition 65
[2] OEHHA lists Vinylidene chloride(1,1-Dichloroethylene) under Proposition 65
[3] Chemical reference of Chlorpyrifos
[4] Consideration of n-Hexane for Listing under Proposition 65 as Known to Cause Reproductive Toxicity 
[5] Chemical reference of Vinylidene chloride (1,1-Dichloroethylene)
[6] E-ssentials of Proposition 65 new warning requirements