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. 

• 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 Formerly 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

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

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
• 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 Specific Regulatory Levels Posing No Significant Risk - Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP)

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

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

Downloads

Proposition 65 1986 Ballot Initiative (includes the Legislative Analyst analysis)Nov 1, 1986

Proof of Compliance - Special Compliance ProcedureOct 5, 2013