California Prop 65 Safe Drinking Water & Toxic Enforcement

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California’s Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act) is the world’s most aggressive “right-to-know” law and the #1 reason brands receive six- and seven-figure settlements overnight. 

The law demands that any product sold in California (including online sales shipped to a single CA address) must carry a clear warning label if it exposes users to any of the 900+ listed chemicals “known to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm”, even at trace levels. Common triggers include:

• Lead and cadmium in jewelry, bags, ceramics, and electronics  
• Phthalates in soft plastics, cables, and children’s products  
• BPA in cans and receipts  
• Acrylamide in roasted nuts and coffee  
• Formaldehyde in polymers, furniture and textiles  
• DEHP in tools and rainwear

No minimum threshold exists for most reproductive toxins, and lead is triggered at just 0.5 µg/day.

Non-compliance is punished by private bounty-hunter lawyers who file “60-day notices” and sue for penalties up to $2,500 per violation per day, plus full attorney fees. Most cases settle for $50,000–$500,000 and force immediate product removal from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and every California retailer.

One unlabelled shipment can bankrupt a small brand in weeks. Major retailers now reject suppliers without valid Prop 65 test reports and settlement-free history.

Professional Prop 65 screening, risk assessment, and reformulation guidance are the only proven shield against these lawsuits. 

Don’t become the next headline victim, protect your entire revenue stream by performing a 

risk assessment  or Book a compliance review before your next shipment lands.