Proposition 65 Law and Regulations

Proposition 65 - The Law

Proposition 65 became law in November 1986, when California voters approved it by a 63-37 percent margin.  The official name of Proposition 65 is the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.

• Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Leginfo)
• Proposition 65 1986 Ballot Initiative (includes the Legislative Analyst analysis and arguments and rebuttals for and against the Proposition)
• Legal Cases related to the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

Proposition 65 Regulations

OEHHA is the lead agency for implementation of Proposition 65 and may adopt and modify regulations as necessary. 

• An unofficial version of the Proposition 65 regulations is available to download as a PDF. This unofficial version of the regulations is provided for convenience and as quick reference; it should not be cited or used for legal research. An official version of the regulations is available through an external link provided in the bullet point below.
• Proposition 65 related regulations are available through this link: WestLawNext website.
• Regulations concerning private enforcement of Proposition 65 are available from the California Attorney General’s web site.
• The publication from OAL “How to Participate in the Rulemaking Process” explains the regular rulemaking process and how to participate.
• Rulemaking documents - Initial statements of reason, final statements of reason are available on our Proposition 65 Notices page.  Use the advanced filter to search for specific content.

Statements of Reasons provide the rationale for regulations. Final statements of reasons for Proposition 65 regulations adopted by OEHHA are provided below.

Article 1: Preamble and Definitions

• Article 1-3 Final Statement of Reasons, January 1988
• Final Statement of Reasons - Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Section 12201, Definitions
• Notice of Amendments to Text of Regulations, Preamble to Division 2, Chapter 3, Article 1 and Sections 12102 - 12302, 12304 - 12504, 12601, 12701, 12705, 12709, 12711, 12721 - 14000

Article 2: Guidelines and Safe Use Determination Procedures

• Article 1-3 Final Statement of Reasons, January 1988
• Notice of Amendments to Text of Regulations, Title 22, California Code of Regulations, Section 12204 (renumbered from Section 12104)
• Notice of Adoption New Section 25205, Proposition 65 Lead Agency Website

Article 3: Science Advisory Board: Carcinogen Identification Committee and Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant (DART) Identification Committee

• Article 1-3 Final Statement of Reasons, January 1988
• Final Statement of Reasons - Chemicals Formally Identified by Authoritative Bodies
• Amendment to 25301 - 25306 (formerly 12301 - 12306), Final Statement of Reasons, January 1995
• Notice of Amendment - Title 27, California Code of Regulations, Amendment to Section 25302, Science Advisory Board and Section 25304, Financial Disclosure

Article 4: Discharge

• Final Statement of Reasons - Discharge of Water Containing a Chemical at Time of Receipt
• Final Statement of Reasons - Discharges From Hazardous Waste Facilities
• Final Statement of Reasons - Discharge of an Economic Poison

Article 5: Extent of Exposure

• Final Statement of Reasons - Extent of Exposure
• Final Statement of Reasons, Adoption of Article 5, Section 25506 Exposures to Acrylamide in Cooked or Heat Processed Foods

Article 6: Clear and Reasonable Warnings

• Final Statement of Reasons - Clear and Reasonable Warning, November 1988
• Final Statement of Reasons - Clear and Reasonable Warning, October 1989
• Final Statement of Reasons - Clear and Reasonable Warnings, September 2016
  • Supplement to the Final Statement of Reasons, September 2016
• Notice of Amendments to Text of Regulations Title 22, California Code of Regulations, Sections 12601 and 12201
• Notice of Emergency Action to Amend Section 25603.3 Title 27, California Code of Regulations Warnings for Exposures to Bisphenol A From Canned and Bottled Foods and Beverages
• Final Statement of Reasons - Section 25603.3, Warnings for Exposures to Bisphenol A from Canned and Bottled Foods and Beverages
• Final Statement of Reasons - Repeal of Sections 25607.30 and 25607.31, Clear and Reasonable Warning Regulations, Exposure to Bisphenol A from Canned and Bottled Foods and Beverages
• Final Explanatory Statement - Section 100 Changes Without Regulatory Effect, Article 6 Clear and Reasonable Warnings
• Final Statement of Reasons - Adoption of Sections 25607.32 and 25607.33, Hotel Exposure Warnings
• Final Statement of Reasons - Amendments to Article 6 Clear and Reasonable Warnings
• Final Statement of Reasons - Amendments to Article 6 Clear and Reasonable Warnings Pesticide Exposure Warnings
• Final Statement of Reasons - Amendments to Article 6, New Sections 25607.34 and 25607.35 Residential Rental Property Exposure Warnings
• Final Statement of Reasons - Rental Vehicle Exposure Warnings New Sections 25607.36 and 25607.37   
• Final Statement of Reasons - Amendments to Clear and Reasonable Warnings, Section 25600.2 Responsibility to Provide Consumer Product Exposure Warnings
• Final Statement of Reasons - Adoption of Article 6, Sections 25607.38 – 25607.47 Safe Harbor Warnings for Exposures to Cannabis (Marijuana) Smoke and Delta-9-Tetahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC)
• Final Statement of Reasons - Amendments to Article 6 Clear and Reasonable Warnings New Sections 25607.48 and 25607.49 Warnings for Exposures to Glyphosate from Consumer Products
• Final Statement of Reasons - Safe Harbor Warning Regulation for Exposures to Acrylamide from Food
• Final Statement of Reasons – Safe Harbor Warnings for Acrylamide Exposure from Food
• Final Statement of Reasons – Safe Harbor Methods and Content

Article 7: No Significant Risk Levels

• Final Statement of Reasons - No Significant Risk Levels and No Observable Effect Levels
• Final Statement of Reasons - Quantitative Risk Assessment
• Final Statement of Reasons - Exposure to Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices
• Final Statement of Reasons - Amendment to: Section 12701 (General) and Repeal of: Section 12713 (Exposure to Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices)
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: Expedited Method, 140 chemicals, below which the Act does not apply.
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Level Posing No Significant Risk: Aldrin, Asbestos, Carbon tetrachloride, DDT/DDE/DDD, para-Dichlorobenzene, Dieldrin, 1,4-Dioxane, N-Nitrosodipropylamine, and Urethane
• Final Statement of Reasons - Section 12705, Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk - 10 Chemicals: Benzidine, bis(2- chloroethyl)ether, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiphenylamine, N-Nitroso-n-dibutylamine, N-nitroso-N-ethylurea, N-nitroso-N-methylurea, Toxaphene and 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: Acrylonitrile, Bis(chloromethyl) ether, 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine, Epichlorohydrin, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorocyclohexane (technical grade), and Polybrominated biphenyls
• Final Statement of Reasons - No Significant Risk Levels Based on State or Federal Standards for Sixteen Chemicals: Acrylamide, Allyl Chloride, Aniline, Azobenzene, DDVP (Dichlorvos), Folpet, Furmecyclox, Hydrazine, Hydrazine sulfate, 4,4'-Methylene bis(N,N-dimethyl)­ benzeneamine, N-Nitrosodiethanolamine, N-Nitrosomethylethylamine, Pentachlorophenol, and Hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha, beta, and gamma isomers)
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: - Benzene
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: Benzyl chloride and Bromodichloromethane
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: Arsenic, Butylated hydroxyanisole, Cadmium, and Chromium (hexavalent compounds)
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: Dichloromethane (Methylene chloride), Trichloroethylene, Vinyl chloride
• Notice of Modifications to Text of Regulations Title 22, California Code of Regulations Sections 12705 and 12805 (benzene, cadmium, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), lead, etc.)
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: Hexachlorodibenzodioxin (HCDD) and 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
• Final Statement of Reasons - Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: Ethylene Oxide
• Final Statement of Reasons – Title 22, Section 12903, Notices of Violation (1996)
  • Addendum to Final Statement of Reasons – Title 22, Section 12903, Notices of Violation (1997)
• Notice of Modifications to Text of Regulations Title 22, California Code of Regulations Sections 12705 and 12805 (benzene, cadmium, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, lead, etc.)
• Amendment to Section 12705. Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: benzofuran, N-carboxymethyl-N-nitrosourea, p-chloro-o-toluidine hydrochloride, 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine; 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine dihydrochloride, 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine, 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine dihydrochloride, isobutyl nitrite, 2-methylaziridine (propyleneimine), nalidixic acid, phenyl glycidyl ether, o-phenylenediamine, o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride, tetranitromethane, and 2,6-xylidine and Amendment to Section 12805.
• Final Statement of Reasons for the Amended Section 12705 Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: Benzene and Bromoform
• Final Statement of Reasons Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk: (benz[a]anthracene, benzene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, bromoform, chrysene, 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole, dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, and 5-methylchrysene)
• Amendments to Text of Regulations, Title 22, California Code of Regulations, Sections 12705 and 12805 - (1,2-Dichloropropane)
• Final Statement of Reasons – Title 22, Section 12903(c), Notices of Violation (2009)
• Final Statement of Reasons – Title 22, Section 12903 Appendix A, Notices of Violation (2012)
• Final Statement of Reasons – Title 22, Section 12903 Appendix A, Notices of Violation (2014)
• Final Statement of Reasons Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk - Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP)
• Final Statement of Reasons – Title 27, Section 25903(b)(2)(E) and Appendix A, Notices of Violation (2017)

Article 8: No Observable Effect Levels

• Final Statement of Reasons - No Significant Risk Levels and No Observable Effect Levels
• Amendments to Title 27, California Code of Regulations, Sections 25801 and 25803 No Observable Effect Levels for Listed Chemicals - default age-specific bodyweights to be used in calculation of the maximum allowable dose level
• Final Statement of Reasons - Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for Toluene
• Notice of Modifications to Text of Regulations Title 22, California Code of Regulations Sections 12705 and 12805 (benzene, cadmium, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), lead, etc.)
• Amendment to Section 12805. Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for linuron
• Amendment to Section 12805. Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for (2,4-D butyric acid, m-dinitrobenzene, hydramethylnon and N-methylpyrrolidone)
• Amendments to Text of Regulations, Title 22, California Code of Regulations, Sections 12705 and 12805 Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) - (1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, disodium cyanodithioimidocarbonate, ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, methyl bromide as a structural fumigant, and thiophanate-methyl)
• Amendments to Text of Regulations Title 22, California Code Of Regulations Section 12705. Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk Section 12805. Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) - (sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate)
• Amendment to Section 12805: Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for DEHP by Oral Exposure
• Amendment to Section 12805 Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (by Intravenous Injection)
• Amendment to Section 12805 Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (EGEE), Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether Acetate (EGEEA), and Potassium Dimethyldithiocarbamate
• Final Statement of Reasons - Amendment to Section 25805 Specific Regulatory Levels: Chemicals Causing Reproductive Toxicity Maximum Allowable Dose Levels For Chlorpyrifos (Oral, Inhalation And Dermal Exposures)

Article 9: Miscellaneous

• Notice of Repeal of Regulations, Title 22, California Code of Regulations, Section 12901 Methods of Detection
  • Final Statement of Reasons - Methods of Detection
• Final Statement of Reasons - Formally Required to be Labeled or Identified As Causing Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
• Amendment of Section 25903 Notices of Violation
• Notice of Adoption to Text of Regulations, Title 22, California Code of Regulations New Section 12900 (Use of Specified Methods of Detection and Analysis for Listed Chemicals for Voluntary Compliance Testing)
• New Section 25904 Listings by Reference to the California Labor Code