SGS SA Home›News Center›California Proposition 65 Reformulation of Lead in Consumer Products
April 29, 2016
SAFEGUARDS | Consumer Products NO. 087/16
A number of Prop 65 settlements involving lead have been reached for a wide variety of products. The parties in these settlements agreed to reformulate or to provide Prop 65 warnings.
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
The Prop 65 list of chemicals contains a large number of toxins that are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm. Of these 800 or so chemicals, lead-containing consumer products [2] have been consistently targeted since its listing as a chemical that is known to cause developmental toxicity in males and females in February 1987.
In late 2015, a number of Prop 65 Consent Decrees and/or Settlement Agreements (Settlements) were concluded. These Settlements resulted in the reformulation of lead in anti-siphon valves, brass knob bases, ceramic pie weights, clamp sets, copper tubing kits, dishwasher connectors, lock-up caps, metal whistles and swivel connectors. Some of these Settlements allowed a Prop 65 warning as an alternative. A Prop 65 settlement is a consent agreement between the parties named in the Settlement. Any party not named in a Settlement is not bound by it.
Highlights of these settlements are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1
| Item | Product | Reformulation for lead |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anti-siphon valves | ≤ 100 ppm otherwise warning |
| 2 | Brass knob bases |
≤ 90 ppm and |
| 3 | Ceramic pie weights | < 100 ppb (parts per billion) |
| 4 | Clamp sets | ≤ 90 ppm otherwise warning |
| 5 | Copper tubing kits | ≤ 100 ppm otherwise warning |
| 6 | Dishwasher connectors | ≤ 0.01% for exposed brass or other metal components otherwise warning |
| 7 | Lock-up caps (lamp accessories and hardware) | ≤ 125 ppm per wipe (NIOSH 9100) otherwise warning |
| 8 | Metal whistles (non children's item) | ≤ 0.01% in alloys and solder |
| 9 | Swivel connectors | ≤ 100 ppm otherwise warning |
Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS can offer comprehensive testing, product assessments and consultancy services related to California Proposition 65 to assist your risk management in your supply chain for consumer goods such as DIYs, electrical and electronics, hardgoods products, juvenile products, and textile & toy products. For further information, pleasevisit our website.
For enquiries, please contact:
Hing Wo TsangGlobal Hardlinest: +852 2774 7420
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SGS SA issued this content on 29 April 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 29 April 2016 06:53:36 UTC
Original Document: http://www.sgs.com/en/news/2016/04/safeguards-08716-california-proposition-65-reformulation-of-lead-in-consumer-products
