How One State Can Set National Labeling Priorities

Every once in a while, you may come across a product made with chemicals that are “known to the state of California to cause cancer or birth defects,” according to the label. To residents of the other 49 states, this may seem like an odd warning. After all, why would anything be on the market if a state is so concerned about it? What do the other states think?

It’s important for all product manufacturers to comply with state product safety labeling rules.

The answer is Proposition 65, otherwise known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. First passed in 1986, this law is designed to protect California residents and their drinking water from more than 800 chemicals that are believed to be toxic.

This includes the requirement that any consumer product containing one or more of these chemicals be labeled – though the labels do not have to say how much of the chemical is contained within, or how dangerous it might be.

Since California is such a large state, many product manufacturers that sell goods nationwide simply affix the same labels to all of their products, rather than separate those that are going to California and those that are not. In this way, the laws passed in just one state can affect the entire country.

Most recently, for instance, the state’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has released proposed revisions to the labeling regulation. If approved, the new rules will make these labels more specific, calling out the particular hazardous chemical by name. They will also be printed in a bolder font so they are easier to read. 

It’s important for all product manufacturers to have the capacity to comply with state product safety labeling rules. Durafast offers printing solutions that help users produce exactly the labels they need in a more cost-effective manner. Contact us today!