Cal Prop 65 Compliance Testing
Identify chemical risks, assess exposure, and prepare your products for the California market with expert Cal Prop 65 testing and guidance.
Identify chemical risks, assess exposure, and prepare your products for the California market with expert Cal Prop 65 testing and guidance.
California Proposition 65 - Cal Prop 65 - requires businesses to provide a clear and reasonable warning when a product could expose consumers to a listed chemical above the applicable safe harbor level. QIMA helps you assess your products, identify relevant chemical risks, and determine the next compliance step before market entry.
Our Cal Prop 65 compliance programs include:
Product assessments
Lab testing
Technical guidance
Settlement reviews
By contacting QIMA you agree to our privacy policy and terms and conditions.
Cal Prop 65 is California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. It requires businesses to warn consumers about significant exposure to chemicals that California lists as causing cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. The law does not automatically prohibit products containing listed chemicals, but it can require a warning when exposure exceeds the applicable safe harbor level.
California maintains a list of 950+ naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals. QIMA’s testing and assessment programs help businesses evaluate relevant chemicals in their products and understand whether further assessment, corrective action, or warning-label guidance may be needed.
California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) maintains the list of chemicals regulated under Cal Prop 65. When a product could expose consumers to a listed chemical above the applicable safe harbor level, the responsible business must provide a clear and reasonable warning.
The assessment depends on the product, the chemical involved, the likely route of exposure, and the expected exposure level. Businesses with 10 or more employees are generally subject to the warning requirement, although product-specific responsibilities can vary.
Testing and technical assessment before market entry can help identify potential issues while there is still time to adjust materials, manufacturing processes, packaging, or labeling.
Cal Prop 65 enforcement can come from California authorities as well as private parties. A product that enters the market without the appropriate assessment or warning can expose a business to complaints, litigation, settlement costs, legal fees, and reputational damage.
Penalties for violating Proposition 65 by failing to provide required notices can be as high as $2,500 per violation per day, according to OEHHA. The financial impact can extend beyond the penalty itself, particularly when a business has to respond to a private claim or review products already in distribution.
A pre-emptive assessment gives you a clearer basis for deciding whether your product needs additional chemical testing, exposure assessment, corrective action, or warning-label guidance.
Cal Prop 65 can affect consumer products sold or distributed in California across many categories, including apparel, toys, electronics, furniture, cosmetics, jewelry, and promotional products. The chemicals and assessment requirements depend on the product's materials, components, packaging, and expected consumer exposure.
Our experts will test your products for listed chemicals and advise you on achieving Prop 65 compliance. We have expertise in a wide variety of product categories, including, but not limited to:
QIMA's Cal Prop 65 assessment process typically follows three steps:
Review - a toxicologist reviews the disclosed raw materials, components, and available product information against the Cal Prop 65 list.
Assess - if a chemical of concern is identified, QIMA evaluates the relevant chemical and exposure information to determine whether further testing or exposure assessment is needed.
Report & guide - QIMA provides a report and explains the appropriate next steps, which may include additional testing, corrective action, or warning-label guidance.
QIMA reviews relevant regulatory updates, including additions to the Proposition 65 chemical list, so assessment programs can reflect current requirements.
Share your product category, materials, and target market with QIMA. Our team can help identify the appropriate testing and assessment route.
QIMA combines product testing, toxicological expertise, and digital order management to help you address Cal Prop 65 requirements across a wide range of consumer products.
Testing capabilities covering a wide range of consumer product categories
Global laboratory support for you and your suppliers
Turnaround options to suit your project timeline
Experts trained and certified in California Prop 65 testing and assessment
A support team that helps coordinate testing, reporting, and next steps
Online booking and dashboard access for managing orders and reports
QIMA can combine Cal Prop 65 laboratory testing with relevant product quality and production services. This helps you review chemical risks alongside product specifications and manufacturing controls, before issues become costly to correct.
Cal Prop 65 testing evaluates a product, material, component, or packaging against chemicals listed under California’s Proposition 65 requirements. Depending on the product and chemical, the work can include materials review, laboratory testing, toxicological assessment, exposure assessment, and warning-label guidance.
No. A warning may be required when a product exposes consumers to a listed chemical above the applicable safe harbor level. The answer depends on the product, the chemical, the route of exposure, and the exposure level. QIMA can help assess the relevant information.
Cal Prop 65 can apply to many consumer products sold or distributed in California, including apparel, footwear, toys, electronics, furniture, cosmetics, jewelry, and promotional products. The relevant testing depends on the product’s materials, components, and intended use.
QIMA can review product information, perform relevant testing, and provide technical guidance on the next compliance step. Warning-label decisions depend on the applicable chemical, exposure assessment, and current regulatory requirements.
Contact QIMA with your product category, materials, components, packaging details, and intended California market. QIMA can then help identify the appropriate testing and assessment route.
Get a clearer view of your Cal Prop 65 testing and assessment requirements before your product enters distribution.
Product Testing - Learn more about QIMA’s laboratory testing services for a range of product types.
Accreditations - Access QIMA's laboratory accreditations in line with global regulatory bodies.
By contacting QIMA you agree to our privacy policy and terms and conditions.