California Proposition 65
Proposition 65, officially the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is a law that requires warnings be provided to Californians when they might be exposed to chemicals identified by California as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity. The warnings are intended to help Californians make informed decisions about their exposures to these chemicals from the products they use. Proposition 65 applies to businesses (with limited exceptions) that operate or sell products in the State of California, including those businesses located both inside and outside of California that sell products to people in California over the Internet and through catalogs.
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) administers the Proposition 65 program and publishes the listed chemicals, which includes more than 850 chemicals. The list is searchable and can be found at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list and at https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/chemicals.
New regulations went into effect on January 1, 2025, that expanded the information required in Proposition 65 short-form warnings. Manufacturers and sellers have until January 1, 2028 to fully transition to the new clear and reasonable warning language required by the new regulations.
Amazon’s Proposition 65 Program Policy
Selling partners are responsible for complying with Proposition 65. Amazon requires all selling partners, including those with fewer than 10 employees, to determine if the products they sell contain a Proposition 65 chemical and to provide the specific warnings required by California law.
Additional Resources
OEHHA publishes sample warnings and translations for businesses, accessible at https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/businesses/sample-warnings-and-translations-businesses.
For more background information and resources about Proposition 65 warnings, go to https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/.
Proposition 65 and its regulations are posted at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/law/proposition-65-law-and-regulations.
