By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
SEMA is calling on its member companies to take action and oppose proposed changes to Proposition 65, a California law that requires warning labels on products containing chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm.
The proposed changes, recently announced by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), would significantly impact businesses in the specialty automotive market, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers and out-of-state companies selling products in California.
OEHHA is holding a public hearing on the proposed rules on December 13, 2023. The public comment deadline is December 20, 2023. Click here to submit comments to OEHHA in opposition to the proposed changes.
Key Changes to Proposition 65:
- Short-form warnings would be required to include at least one chemical on the label. This is a significant change from the current regulations, which allow businesses to use a generic short-form warning that does not identify any specific chemicals.
- The size and shape restrictions for short-form warnings would be removed. This means that businesses would have more flexibility in labeling their products.
- Short-form warnings would be allowed to be used on the internet and catalog sales. This is a welcome change for businesses that sell products online.
- Businesses would be required to sell through existing inventory with current short-form warnings for two years after the new rules go into effect.
For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.