California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) settlement and
consent judgements issued in relation to two 60-day notices concerning consumer
exposure to chromium IV (Cr (VI)) in leather gloves.
Cr (VI) has been on the Prop 65 List of chemicals
known to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm since 1987.
Chromium is a versatile tanning agent but under certain production and
storage conditions, chromium III can convert into Cr (VI), which can trigger
allergic reactions and cause skin ulcers and tumors, and skin cancer.
Theses settlement and consent judgements were among a
number of 60-day notices that have been issued in relation to Cr (VI) in
leather goods during recent months. They require manufacturers or distributors of
leather gloves containing Cr (VI) to provide a ‘clear and reasonable warning’
(Prop 65 Warning).
The Prop 65 Warning can either be in long form or
short form:
Long form, with a warning symbol at the start:
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including chromium (hexavalent compounds), which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go towww.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Short form, with a warning symbol at the start:
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm – www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Prop 65, or the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’,
is a unique piece of legislation passed in November 1986. It requires the state
to maintain the Prop 65 List and, unless exempted, businesses operating in
California must provide a Prop 65 Warning before knowingly and intentionally
exposing anyone to a substance on that list. Companies have twelve months to
comply with this requirement once a substance is included in the Prop 65 List.
A 60-day Notice of Violation is a legal document that
often leads to settlement negotiations. It should be noted, Prop 65 settlements
are consent agreements between the parties named in the settlement. Parties not
named in a settlement are not bound by it, but it is advisable for all
businesses operating in California to stay aware of them to help avoid
potential future problems.
SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art
laboratories specializing in testing of apparel, footwear, and home textiles.
Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing
them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical, chemical, and functional
testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps
companies ensure quality, performance, and compliance with international,
industrial, and regulatory standards worldwide.
Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services.
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest
news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full
California Proposition 65 Settlement on Chromium VI of Leather Gloves SafeGuardS.
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For further information contact:
Louann Spirito
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel: +1 973 461 7919
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification,
testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark
for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a
network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.