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 January 03, 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

June 20, 2014: Modification to Text of Proposed Regulation Title 27, California Code of Regulations Proposed Section 25904 Listings by Reference to the California Labor Code

OEHHA's modified proposal to add section 25904 to Title 27, Cal. Code of Regulations. The regulation was reorganized to better implement the statutory language of Proposition 65, which incorporates sections 6382(b)(1) and 6382(d) of the California Labor Code.

June 20, 2014: Comment Period - Modification to Text of Proposed Regulation Title 27, California Code of Regulations Proposed Section 25904 Listings by Reference to the California Labor Code

Comment period on OEHHA's modified proposal to add section 25904 to Title 27, Cal. Code of Regulations. The regulation was reorganized to better implement the statutory language of Proposition 65, which incorporates sections 6382(b)(1) and 6382(d) of the California Labor Code.

June 11, 2014: Intent to List: Ethylene Glycol - Additional Extension of Comment Period

Extension of comment period. Intent to list ethylene glycol as known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.

June 6, 2014: Chemical Delisted Effective June 6, 2014 as Known to the State of California to Cause Reproductive Toxicity: Chlorsulfuron

Chlorsulfuron delisted effective June 6, 2014 as known to the State of California to cause reproductive toxicity.

June 6, 2014: Change to the Basis for Listing for Hexafluoroacetone and Phenylphosphine as Known to the State of California to Cause Reproductive Toxicity

Effective June 6, 2014, the basis for the listing of hexafluoroacetone and phenylphosphine under Proposition 65 as known to cause reproductive toxicity has changed. Originally the two chemicals were added to the Proposition 65 list as causing reproductive toxicity via the “Labor Code mechanism” . The new mechanism is the state’s qualified experts mechanism.