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Contact Information:

Department of Toxic Substances Control
Safer Products and Workplaces Program
P.O. Box 806
Sacramento, CA 95812-0806
SaferConsumerProducts@dtsc.ca.gov
 

 

Safer Consumer Products

SAFER CONSUMER PRODUCTS REGULATIONS 

The Safer Consumer Products program strives to reduce toxic chemicals in products consumers buy and use. It identifies specific products containing potentially harmful chemicals and asks manufacturers to answer two questions: 1) Is this chemical necessary? 2) Is there a safer alternative?

The program requires manufacturers to conduct a thorough analysis of alternatives to make sure they don't pose environmental or health problems. The result is that consumers will confidence that the products they buy are safe for their families and the environment.

PRIORITY PRODUCTS

What is a Priority Product? A Priority Product is a consumer product that contains one or more chemicals – known as Candidate Chemicals – that have a hazard trait that can harm people or the environment. A proposed list of three product-chemical combinations was released on March 13, 2014. This initial Priority Products list is the first set of product-chemical combinations to be named for consideration by DTSC to be regulated under the Safer Consumer Products regulations. Publication of this draft list of products imposes no new regulatory requirements on manufacturers until DTSC finalizes it by adopting regulations. Read more

The Priority Products and Candidate Chemicals:


Proposed Initial Priority Products List

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How were the Priority Products selected?

  • Potential exposure to the Candidate Chemical in the product
  • Potential for exposure to contribute to or cause significant or widespread adverse impacts

Will manufacturers have to eliminate the Candidate Chemical from their product immediately? 

No. From start to finish, finalizing the initial Priority Products list could take up to two years. The proposed initial Priority Products list will be finalized via adoption of regulations for each Priority Product. Prior to initiating formal rulemaking, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) will hold public workshops on the proposed Priority Products. This rulemaking process may take up to one year. Requirements for manufacturers to notify DTSC and begin the Alternatives Analysis process do not start until the Priority Product regulations are finalized. 

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