California Prop 65

What Is California State Proposition 65?

According to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was intended by its authors to protect California citizens and the State’s drinking water sources from chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals. It requires all manufacturers, producers, importers, suppliers and distributors, regardless of whether they are located in California or elsewhere, to provide a warning if their products could cause an exposure to certain chemicals to individuals in California.

Proposition 65 requires the California Governor to publish, at least annually, a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. There are currently almost 900 chemicals on the Prop 65 list and on December 18, 2009, wood dust was added to the list of substances “known to the State of California to cause cancer.”

Since December 18, 2010, California Proposition 65 has required manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of wood products in California to provide the following clear and reasonable warning about wood dust to California consumers:

“WARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding, or machining wood products can expose you to wood dust, a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection.”

Certain products manufactured or sold by Columbia Forest Products may also require warnings under California State Proposition 65 because they pose a risk of exposure to chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. See in-store, on product or website information for product specific Prop 65 warnings.