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

January 3, 2014: Chemical Listed Effective January 3, 2014 as Known to the State to Cause Cancer: Emissions from High-Temperature Unrefined Rapeseed Oil

Emissions from high-temperature unrefined rapeseed oil listed as known to the State to cause cancer for effective January 3, 2014 via the Authoritative Bodies listing mechanism.

December 27, 2013: Notice of Change in the Basis of Listing for Carbaryl as Known to the State to Cause Reproductive Toxicity

The basis of listing for carbaryl as known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity has been changed. OEHHA determined that carbaryl meets the criteria for listing via the “authoritative bodies” listing mechanism and is changing the basis for listing the chemical based on the identification of developmental, female and male reproductive toxicity endpoints by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

December 23, 2013: Extension of Comment Period - Tabulating Epidemiological and Animal Data In Hazard Identification Documents for the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee

Extension of the public comment period on the draft templates for tabulating epidemiological and animal data in documents prepared for the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DART IC).

December 12, 2013: Notice to Change the Basis for Listing for: 2-Chloropropionic Acid, N,N'-Dimethylacetamide, 4-Vinyl-Cyclohexene and Vinyl Cyclohexene Dioxide as Known to the State of California to Cause Reproductive Toxicity

Notice of change of basis for listing as reproductive toxicants for 4 chemicals: 2-chloropropionic acid, N,N’-dimethylacetamide, 4-vinyl-cyclohexene and vinyl cyclohexene dioxide. Basis was changed from Labor Code to State's Qualified Experts.

December 12, 2013: Chemical Listed Effective December 20, 2013 as Known to the State of California to Cause Cancer: Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP)

On December 20, 2013 OEHHA adds diisononyl phthalate to the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer.