Environmental Health

What is Prop.65?

San Francisco, CA—If you have been in a public building since 1986, chances are you’ve seen this sign:

"Warning: Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm may be present in food or beverages sold or served here."

This language is from California’s Prop 65, also known as the “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986”  requiring the public to be notified about the presence of certain chemicals in food, beverages, or other consumer products.

The Board of Supervisors recently amended the San Francisco Health Code to strengthen the local enforcement of Prop 65. The new law requires the Department of Public Health to enforce existing Prop 65 requirements by ensuring that food product and marketing establishments and food preparation and service establishments provide any required Prop 65 health warnings to customers in English, Spanish and Chinese. The law took effect Monday, December 12, 2005.

In addition, the law requires that establishments that are parties to existing settlements and consent judgments in cases filed under Prop. 65, provide required warnings in English, Spanish and Chinese.

Ordinances for Prop. 65

• California’s Prop 65, also known as the “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986,
• San Francisco Health Code, Article 8, Sec. 456.6
• San Francisco Health Code, Article 8, Sec.440 & 451
• California Health and Safety Code, Sec.25249.6
• California Health and Safety Code, Sec.12599-12601 (scroll down to #12599)
• California Health and Safety Code, Sec.113789 (scroll down to #113789)
• California Code of Regulations, Title 22