What is CA Prop 65?
CA Prop 65, known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is a California
law requiring businesses operating in California, including those that manufacture, distribute, or sell
consumer products in the state, to notify Californians about certain conservative levels of chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or reproductive harm in the
products they purchase, introduced into the home or workplace, or released into the environment. The
law also requires the State of California to continuously update and publish, annually, a list of such
chemicals.
CA Prop 65 is a right-to-know law. CA Prop 65 does not ban listed chemicals or even limit their
use, although they may be banned by other laws or regulations. While California consumers are familiar
with the CA Prop 65 warning labels, people in other states are not, and they may become alarmed when
they see a product with a label that says it contains a chemical that causes cancer or reproductive harm.
According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, there are more than 900 chemicals that
are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. A partial
listing of CA Prop 65 chemicals includes: Alcoholic beverages, Aloe Vera, Aspirin, Cadmium, Carbon
monoxide, Chromium (hexavalent compounds), Gasoline and Diesel engine exhaust, Lead and Lead
compounds, Leather dust, Nickel (Metallic), Nicotine, Tobacco, Urethane, and Wood dust.
Why does HPI include CA Prop 65 warnings?
HPI is committed to compliance with CA Prop 65, and to the overall welfare and safety of all our
customers. Because HPI produces and supplies hardware globally, the CA Prop 65 warning is provided in
certain products to ensure compliance with stringent California law. HPI takes this warning obligation
seriously, and includes the CA Prop 65 warning out of an abundance of caution and not because we
believe that our products are dangerous. The CA Prop 65 warning is provided in several languages
regardless of where the product is sold, or the brand/trademark name under which the product is sold.
For example, many of HPI’s security hardware products are key operated locking devices
wherein the key(s) and/or cylinder plug components are made of brass. In other cases, some of the
other door lock components are made of brass. Commercial grade brass contains a small amount of
lead. Because lead and lead compounds are included on California’s listing of toxic chemicals, HPI
includes a warning notice on these products to keep its customers informed. The printed notice also
reduces the exposure to HPI Products and its customers/distributors of being alleged to be in violation
of CA Prop 65 law because a warning notice was not provided on a product.
Why similar products produced by others do not carry the CA Prop 65 warnings?
There could be a variety of reasons why some companies do not carry a CA Prop 65 warning on
their products. For example, settlements with companies involved in CA Prop 65 lawsuits and
inconsistent enforcement of CA Prop 65 may explain why certain products in the market carry the CA
Prop 65 warnings, and virtually identical products do not carry the CA Prop 65 warnings. Other
companies may elect not to provide warnings because, in their assessment, they conclude that they are
not required to do so under CA Prop 65 standards. Please be aware that just because the CA Prop 65
warning is missing from an identical product from a different company, does not automatically mean
that the other company’s product is free of the same chemical at similar levels or has lower levels of the
same chemical.
The CA Prop 65 Warnings
To comply with the new CA Prop 65 regulations operative on August 30, 2018, one of the
following six CA Prop 65 warnings is featured on the product packaging and/or product labels when
applicable:
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including [name of one or more
chemicals], which is [are] known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including [name of one or more
chemicals], which is [are] known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
WARNING: Cancer - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including [name of one or more
chemicals], which is [are] known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other
reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
WARNING: Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
In conclusion, the CA Prop 65 warning is printed on the product packaging or product label to
comply with current CA Prop 65 labeling laws. HPI’s policy is to provide this same warning notice on all
applicable products, including products made of brass, or where the primary composition of the product
is made of brass. For more information about CA Prop 65, please visit the Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment of California website: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65.