Chapter 8: California Proposition 65 Warning Information - Toro 68141 Operator's Manual

Chapter 8
California Proposition 65 Warning
Information
What is this warning?
You may see a product for sale that has a warning label like the following:
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm—www.p65Warnings.ca.gov.
What is Prop 65?
Prop 65 applies to any company operating in California, selling products in California, or manufacturing
products that may be sold in or brought into California. It mandates that the Governor of California
maintain and publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, and/or other reproductive
harm. The list, which is updated annually, includes hundreds of chemicals found in many everyday
items. The purpose of Prop 65 is to inform the public about exposure to these chemicals.
Prop 65 does not ban the sale of products containing these chemicals but instead requires warnings on
any product, product packaging, or literature with the product. Moreover, a Prop 65 warning does not
mean that a product is in violation of any product safety standards or requirements. In fact, the
California government has clarified that a Prop 65 warning "is not the same as a regulatory decision
that a product is 'safe' or 'unsafe.'" Many of these chemicals have been used in everyday products for
years without documented harm. For more information, go to https://oag.ca.gov/prop65/faqs-view-all.
A Prop 65 warning means that a company has either (1) evaluated the exposure and has concluded
that it exceeds the "no significant risk level"; or (2) has chosen to provide a warning based on its
understanding about the presence of a listed chemical without attempting to evaluate the exposure.
Does this law apply everywhere?
Prop 65 warnings are required under California law only. These warnings are seen throughout
California in a wide range of settings, including but not limited to restaurants, grocery stores, hotels,
schools, and hospitals, and on a wide variety of products. Additionally, some online and mail order
retailers provide Prop 65 warnings on their websites or in catalogs.
How do the California warnings compare to federal limits?
Prop 65 standards are often more stringent than federal and international standards. There are various
substances that require a Prop 65 warning at levels that are far lower than federal action limits. For
example, the Prop 65 standard for warnings for lead is 0.5 μg/day, which is well below the federal and
international standards.
Why don't all similar products carry the warning?
• Products sold in California require Prop 65 labelling while similar products sold elsewhere do not.
California Proposition 65 Warning Information Page 8–1 3451-708 A