Monthly Archives: May 2019

EPA Releases Studies on PV29

The EPA has released 24 studies on pigment violet 29 (PV29) after receiving extensive criticism for withholding health and safety data supporting a risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in connection with the substance. In response to its critics, the EPA vowed to more carefully consider the protection of confidential business information (CBI) and to be more forthcoming with information related to chemicals in its evaluations. The agency stated that it is committed to transparency in its evaluation of the nine other chemicals that will be considered. The controversy began when the EPA released a draft evaluation…

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Increase in Notices of Prop 65 Violations for Online Web Sales

The amendments to Proposition 65 warning regulations that went into effect on August 30, 2018 include more stringent warning requirements for products requiring warnings sold online via the internet. Since those regulatory amendments became effective, only a few enforcement actions based on violations of the new online and internet warning requirements have been initiated. But in recent weeks, more than 50 Notices of Violation or “Threatened Violation” under Prop 65 have been issued against various companies, mostly wine distributions and online retailers. Private enforcer John Devlin is behind the recent onslaught of Prop 65 notices and currently most of these…

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State Considering New Legislation to Expand Oversight of “Harmful” Cosmetics

Legislation was introduced in February that would increase California’s oversight of chemicals that are deemed “harmful” for use in cosmetics. As amended by the California Assembly in March, Assembly Bill 495 (AB 495) proposes to ban 20 chemicals  from being intentionally added in cosmetics from being sold in California. The state has identified these chemicals as substances known to cause cancer or reproductive harm. The chemicals listed in AB 495 include mercury, lead, phthalates, formaldehyde, triclosan, asbestos, lead, and compounds known as PFAS. According to the state, cosmetic products containing these chemicals as intentionally added ingredients would be deemed “adulterated”…

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California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring Program Revises List of Designated Chemicals

The California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring Program, also known as Biomonitoring California, has revised its list of designated chemicals. The updated list includes several additions of chemicals recently included by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. The new list formulated by Biomonitoring California covers the following chemicals: A group of heterocyclic amines (which have been designated by the state for listing under Proposition 65); An additional phthalate alternative; Additional flame retardants; Additional volatile organic compounds; 1-Nitropyrene metabolites (designated as a biomarker for diesel exhaust exposure); and Additional chemicals that are already members of covered groups, including brominated and chlorinated organic…

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