The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (better known as Proposition 65) is a California law that states:
“no person in the course of doing business shall knowingly and intentionally expose any individual to a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving a clear and reasonable warning.”
As a result, any business selling products in California—in stores, catalogs or online—must comply with complex chemical exposure regulations in order to avoid costly fines and lawsuits. This means either ensuring chemical exposure levels are below approved limits or displaying prominent warning labels on non-compliant products.
Consumers are more aware and more concerned than ever about the safety of the products they put on their bodies—and the softline industry is becoming a growing target of litigation. It is critical that apparel, accessories and footwear companies ensure their products comply with Proposition 65 regulations to protect their business and brand image.
This paper outlines the complex requirements of Proposition 65 and discusses ways to address the challenges faced by softline manufacturers, retailers and importers in satisfying these requirements.
Download SGS report here: