Proposition 65

Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. The law protects the state's drinking water sources from being contaminated with chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and requires businesses to inform Californians about exposures to such chemicals.

Proposition 65 requires the state to maintain and update the list of chemicals subject to the law’s requirements.

Questions about Proposition 65?  Visit our Proposition 65 Warnings website.

Proposition 65 Resources

About Proposition 65

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act

The Proposition 65 List

The current Proposition 65 list is dated December 08, 2025

Meetings, Hearings and Workshops

Upcoming and past meetings, hearings and workshops

Notices

All Proposition 65 Notices

Laws and Regulations

Links and downloads related to Proposition 65 statute and regulations

Warnings

Visit this website to learn about warnings for exposures to chemicals on the Proposition 65 List

How chemicals are added to the Proposition 65 list

Learn how chemicals are added to the list

Safe Use Determinations

A Safe Use Determination (SUD) is a written statement issued by OEHHA, interpreting and applying Proposition 65 regulations to specific facts in response to a request by a business or trade group

Interpretive Guidelines for Proposition 65

An Interpretive Guideline interprets Proposition 65 regulations as applied to specific facts

Information Letters

Letters about Proposition 65's application from OEHHA to interested parties

Warning Regulations

Clear and reasonable warnings

Searchable Proposition 65 Chemical Database

Search the Proposition 65 Chemical Database

Safe harbor levels

Proposition 65 No Significant Risk Levels (NSRLs) and Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs)

Reports, Notices, Documents

Correction to the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. CAS number corresponding to 1,3,5-triglycidyl-s-triazinetrione has been corrected as of August 7, 2009.

Public workshop for the purpose of discussing the draft regulatory amendments and gathering input from interested parties concerning providing warnings to consumers for exposures to listed chemicals in foods purchased at retail stores.

Adoption of changes to the Safe Use Determination regulations to delete existing language in subsection (a) providing that Safe Use Determinations are advisory only and replace it with language providing that the Safe Use Determinations shall have presumptive effect, increase the filing fee for a Safe Use Determination request from $500.00 to $1000.00 in subsection (d)(1), and to create in subsection (g) a time limit of sixty (60) days for submission of additional material requested by OEHHA.

Amsacrine, toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme (Fusarium verticillioides) and zalcitabine are being added to the list as known to the state to cause cancer.  n-Butyl glycidyl ether, carbaryl, 2-chloropropionic acid, diglycidyl ether, 2‑ethylhexanoic acid, methyl n-butyl ketone, p,p'-oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide), phenylphosphine, 1,3,5-triglycidyl-s-triazinetrione are being added as known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity. 

Additional endpoints are being added for chemicals that are already on the Proposition 65 list. 

Request for comments.  So-called “60-Day Notices” are currently served via U.S. Mail on all public prosecutors in the state.  This notification process can be expensive and time-consuming.  At the request of affected stakeholders, OEHHA has developed a draft regulatory amendment to Title 27, Cal. Code of Regulations, section 25903(c)(1), that would allow these notices to be sent to prosecutors via electronic mail, if the prosecutor has consented to such service.