PROPOSITION 65
You may have noticed the following warning or a similar one associated with our products and with other products purchased from other manufacturers and distributors.
WARNING: This product contains one or more chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm.
This warning is appearing now because of a California law passed in 1986. You will hear it called Proposition 65, but its formal name is the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. Proposition 65 requires warnings to be placed on product packaging or on the products that contain any of the approximately 900 chemicals considered by the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Since the law was passed, California has added chemicals to and deleted chemicals from the list. Many of the elements listed are common everyday items. Any company that operates in California, sells products in California, or manufactures or distributes products that may be sold in California is subject to complying with Proposition 65 requirements. We are proactively including the warning to meet the Proposition 65 requirements.
Proposition 65 – Frequently Asked Questions
What is California Proposition 65?
Proposition 65, formally known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, is a California law passed in 1986. Proposition 65 requires California to keep a list of chemicals known to state regulators to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Since 1986, California has added chemicals to the list but also deleted chemicals from the list after additional review. Today the Proposition 65 chemical list has grown to include approximately 900 different chemicals, including many chemicals contained in everyday products.
What is a Proposition 65 warning?
Warnings are placed on products distributed in California that contain a listed chemical. A warning must be given for listed chemicals if exposure poses a “significant risk” of cancer or is above a level observed to cause birth defects or reproductive harm. For chemicals listed as causing cancer, the “significant risk level” means an individual would have a greater than one in 100,000 chance of developing cancer if exposed to the chemical over a 70-year lifetime. For chemicals listed as causing birth defects or reproductive harm, the “no observable effect level” is determined by identifying the level of exposure that has been shown to not pose any harm to humans or laboratory animals. Proposition 65 then requires this “no observable effect level” to be divided by 1,000 in order to provide an ample margin of safety. Businesses subject to Proposition 65 are required to provide a warning if they cause exposures to chemicals listed as causing birth defects or reproductive harm that exceed 1/1000th of the “no observable effect level.”
Why don’t all distributors of exercise equipment provide warnings on their products?
We cannot control what our competitors do, but we can make sure that our products comply with the requirements of Proposition 65. We have not changed our products to add listed chemicals.
Why are all products labeled instead of only those that are sold in California?
Our products are distributed nationwide. It would be very difficult and costly to determine which products will ultimately be bought, sold, or brought into California. Therefore, to be sure that we are in compliance with Proposition 65 requirements, we are including the warning with all of our products.
For more information about California Proposition 65, click the link below. Assessment: http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html