CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

USA: California proposition 65 cases update Chromium VI in footwear and belts

JULY 2022 - ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, HARDLINES, SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS

The first known California Proposition 65 (Proposition 65) settlements have reached for leather footwear and belts containing chromium VI. Previously, there were several notices of violations for leather products. Only settlements¹ of leather gloves were reached.

Proposition 65 is a “right to know” act. The law requires businesses with 10 or more employees to provide a clear and reasonable warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing Californians to listed chemicals. Currently, the Proposition 65 list has more than 900 chemicals².

Chromium VI has been on the Proposition 65 list because it is known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Notices of violations (NOV) on chromium VI were submitted for cement, metal processing, paints, etc. Since 2019, leather products like gloves, footwear, aprons, and guitar straps were targeted. To date, settlement agreements reach only for footwear³, belts⁴ and gloves⁵. The covered products were identified as containing chromium VI and did not have Proposition 65 warning labels.

“Chrome-free” leather 
In the settlements of footwear made of leather materials, the concentration of extractable chromium is less than 2 ppm when tested by ISO 17072-1 or a successor ISO standard that measures extractable total chromium. Leather should not be produced with any chemicals containing chromium.

[1]  TUV SUD E-ssentials volume 14, 2020 

[2]  California Proposition 65 list

[3]  Settlements of footwear made of leather materials 

[4]  Settlement of leather belts 

[5]  Settlement of leather gloves