What Are the Testing Items of California Proposition 65?

English Name: California Proposition 65, abbreviated as CA65. It is also referRED to as CP65 Certification or Prop65 Certification.

Chinese Name: Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (also known as Proposition 65).

California Proposition 65 certification testing applies to all products sold or distributed within California, including textiles, metal products, toys, juvenile products, and electrical/electronic products. The scope of cheMICals covered by Proposition 65 is extensive, encompassing common heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, as well as organic chemicals like phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

The California Proposition 65 report primarily lists over 700 chemicals classified as "known to cause cancer" or "known to cause reproductive harm", including common metals like lead and cadmium. It mandates that businesses attach "clear and reasonable" warning labels to consumer products that may release such chemicals.

Categories of Chemicals Included in the Proposition 65 List

The Proposition 65 List covers two categories of chemicals:

①　Carcinogens: Substances that can induce cancer

②　Reproductive Toxicants: Substances that can cause birth defects or other reproductive harm

The list includes a wide range of chemicals, many of which are materials or ingredients in everyday household products, such as ceramic containers, alcoholic beverages, and aspirin. It also includes industrial chemicals, dyes, or solvents used in dry cleaning, manufacturing, or construction, such as benzene, cadmium, tetrachloroethylene, and formaldehyde.

In addition, some are by-products of certain combustion processes, such as automobile exhaust, aircraft emissions, cigarette smoke, and natural gas combustion. Notably, lead is both a carcinogen and a reproductive toxicant, and has long been one of the chemicals involved in litigation cases.

Common Testing Items of California Proposition 65

Flame Retardant Testing Items

General limit: 25 ppm per substance

①　Trimethyl Phosphate (TMP) - CAS No. 512-56-1

②　Triethyl Phosphate (TEP) - CAS No. 78-40-0

③　Tributyl Phosphate (TBP) - CAS No. 126-73-8

④　Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP) - CAS No. 115-96-8

⑤　Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) Phosphate (TDCP/TDCPP) - CAS No. 13674-87-8

⑥　Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP) - CAS No. 115-86-6

⑦　Tris(2-butoxyethyl) Phosphate (TBEP) - CAS No. 78-51-3

⑧　Tris(2-ethylhexyl) Phosphate (TEHP) - CAS No. 78-42-2

⑨　Tris-o-cresyl Phosphate (TOCP) - CAS No. 78-30-8

⑩　Tris-m-cresyl Phosphate (TMCP) - CAS No. 563-04-2

⑪　Tris-p-cresyl Phosphate (TPCP) - CAS No. 78-32-0

⑫　Tris(2-chloropropyl) Phosphate (TCPP) - CAS No. 13674-84-5

⑬　2-Ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB) - CAS No. 183658-27-7

⑭　Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) - CAS No. 26040-51-7

If a chemical is added to the Proposition 65 regULations, manufacturers and distributors are required to implement warning labels within one year and cease discharging the chemical into drinking water sources within 20 months. After these deadlines, government authorities or private enforcers may take legal action against non-compliant parties.