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

OEHHA intends to list the following chemicals as known to the state to cause cancer under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65).  This action is being proposed pursuant to the “Labor Code” listing mechanism.  OEHHA has determined that 2-Amino-4-chlorophenol, 2-Chloronitrobenzene, 1,4-Dichloro-2-nitrobenzene, 2,4-Dichloro-1-nitrobenzene, N,N-Dimethylacetamide, and para-Nitroanisole meet the criteria for listing as known to cause cancer by this mechanism. OEHHA is providing an opportunity to comment, and comments must be received by Monday, August 12, 2019 to be considered. Additional information can be found in the listing notice.

The listing of p-chloro-α,α,α-trifluorotoluene is based on formal identification by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), an authoritative body, that the chemical causes cancer.

An overview of the ways in which a chemical can be added to the Proposition 65 list.

On June 3, 2019, the Office of Administrative Law approved the adoption of Title 27, California Code of Regulations, section 25704, Exposures to Listed Chemicals in Coffee Posing No Significant Risk.

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) proposes to establish three Proposition 65[1] Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for exposure to chlorpyrifos by amending Section 25805(b) of Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations.