"California Proposition 65 originated from the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, which was passed as a law in the state of California in 1986. It serves to protect drinking water sources from pollutants with carcinogenic, reproductive toxic and birth defect inducing properties.

The law prohibits companies from knowingly discharging the listed pollutants into drinking water sources in significant quantities. In addition, the law requires companies that incorporate these pollutants into products to disclose the information to users in the event of significant exposure, e.g. through product labelling.

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), as part of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), maintains and administers the list of contaminants. First published in 1987, the list has been continuously updated and contains more than 900 substances.

OEHHA zur Proposition 65
Proposition 65 Warnings Website
Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986