[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/Prop 65 Warning Format Prop 65CaliforniaUS compliance # California Prop 65 Warning Requirements: Exact Format, Placement, and Content If your product triggers a California Proposition 65 warning requirement, you need to provide the warning in a very specific format. The California OEHHA has published clear safe harbor warning requirements — and using an incorrectly formatted warning does not provide the legal safe harbor protection that a correct warning does. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fprop-65-warning-format) [Check my California compliance requirements](/platform/new) Warning content ## What a Prop 65 warning must say Proposition 65 safe harbor warnings must use specific language. For consumer products, there are two options: the long form and the short form. Both must include the yellow triangle warning symbol with an exclamation mark. Long form warning: 'WARNING: This product can expose you to \[name of chemical\], which is \[known to the State of California to cause cancer / known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm\]. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.' Short form: 'WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm — www.P65Warnings.ca.gov' where Cancer, Reproductive Harm, or both are listed depending on the chemical's hazard type. The word WARNING must appear in all capital letters and bold text. For product warnings, the text must be in English. The minimum print size for Prop 65 warnings on product labels is 6-point type; warnings on internet product pages must be displayed with at least 12-point type. Placement requirements ## Where Prop 65 warnings must appear Prop 65 warnings must be provided prior to or at the point of exposure. For most consumer products, the warning must appear on the product itself, its packaging, or in a label attached to the product or packaging before the consumer purchases it. For retail stores, point-of-purchase placement is acceptable — the warning can be on a shelf tag or sign if clearly provided to the consumer before purchase. For online sales, the warning must appear on the product's page on the website before the consumer adds the product to their shopping cart. Amazon requires Prop 65 warnings to be entered into specific fields in the product listing for products sold in California. For products shipped directly to California consumers, the warning must accompany the product — on the product, packaging, or an enclosed label. Which chemicals to list ## Identifying relevant chemicals for hardware products Proposition 65 lists over 900 chemicals with two hazard types: carcinogen and reproductive toxicant. Hardware products encounter several commonly listed chemicals. Lead (carcinogen and reproductive toxicant) is the most common trigger for electronics — the MADL for reproductive toxicity is 0.5 micrograms per day. RoHS compliance does not guarantee Prop 65 compliance; the standard is daily user exposure, not concentration in materials. Other commonly encountered chemicals for hardware: Cadmium (found in NiCd batteries and some pigments), Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP (PVC cables and wire insulation, MADL 7.7 micrograms/day), and Bisphenol A or BPA (polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins, MADL 3 micrograms/day). Practical approach: obtain material declarations from suppliers identifying listed substances, estimate user contact time and material transfer rates, and compare to NSRLs/MADLs. Conservative calculation methods published by OEHHA can be used when product-specific test data is unavailable. ## Learn this properly, not just for one product In-depth courses and books that teach the process — not a one-off answer you'll need to look up again next time. [Start the course — $149](/courses/31-california-prop-65-compliance-electronics-manufacturers)See your free roadmap [Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/31-california-prop-65-compliance-electronics-manufacturers) ## Frequently asked questions ### Does passing RoHS mean my product is Prop 65 compliant? No. RoHS sets maximum concentration values for hazardous substances in homogeneous materials — for lead, that is 0.1% by weight. Prop 65 evaluates daily exposure to the user, not concentration. A product that meets RoHS lead limits can still trigger a Prop 65 warning requirement if lead transfer to the user exceeds 0.5 micrograms per day. Separate exposure assessment for Prop 65 is required. ### Can I use a warning on my website instead of on the product? For products sold online in California, the warning must appear on the product page before the consumer adds the product to the cart. For physical products sold in California stores, the warning must be on the product, packaging, or a point-of-purchase display. Online-only warnings do not satisfy the requirement for physical retail sales. ### What is the penalty for failing to provide a Prop 65 warning? Prop 65 is primarily enforced through private plaintiff actions. A 60-day notice of violation must be provided to the alleged violator and to the California Attorney General before a civil suit can be filed. Civil penalties can reach $2,500 per violation per day. Settlements typically include a penalty payment and injunctive relief. ### Does Prop 65 apply to business-to-business sales? Prop 65 applies to businesses with 10 or more employees that expose California residents to listed chemicals. B2B sales where employees will be exposed to listed chemicals trigger the warning requirement. Equipment handled by workers in California requires warning analysis regardless of whether the ultimate buyer is a business or consumer. 🇺🇸 US roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇺🇸 US compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/31-california-prop-65-compliance-electronics-manufacturers)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/31-california-prop-65-compliance-electronics-manufacturers) Related guides * [US HTS Codes for ElectronicsHarmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes determine import duty rates for electronics entering the United States.](/guides/us-hts-codes-electronics) * [Energy Star CertificationEnergy Star certification guide for hardware manufacturers: which products qualify, EPA efficiency specifications, the certific…](/guides/energy-star-certification) * [ANSI Standards for the US MarketANSI (American National Standards Institute) accredits organizations to develop American National Standards.](/guides/ansi-standards-us-market) * [FCC SDoC Supplier's DeclarationFCC SDoC explained: which devices qualify, required content, responsible party obligations, record-keeping, and when Certificat…](/guides/fcc-sdoc-supplier-declaration) Educational resource only. Prop 65 chemical list and safe harbor levels are updated regularly by OEHHA. Verify current requirements at oehha.ca.gov before finalizing your compliance approach.