California Proposition 65

Last updated: September 15, 2026

What is California Proposition 65?

California Proposition 65, formally known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires businesses to provide California consumers with a clear and reasonable warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing them to a chemical listed by the State of California, unless an exemption or applicable safe-harbor level applies.

Although the law originally addressed drinking-water contamination, it also applies to potential exposures from consumer products and environments, including foods, dietary supplements, household products, workplaces, restaurants, and other businesses.

California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) maintains and periodically updates the Proposition 65 chemical list. The list contains more than 900 chemicals identified by California as causing cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

Official information is available from OEHHA:

• Proposition 65 overview
• Current Proposition 65 chemical list
• Proposition 65 warnings website

Why are Proposition 65 warnings so common in California?

Some listed chemicals occur naturally in the environment, while others may result from agriculture, manufacturing, processing, storage, or preparation. Trace amounts can therefore be present in everyday foods and consumer products.

Whether a warning is required depends on factors including the specific chemical, the reasonably anticipated level of exposure, how the product is used, and any applicable safe-harbor or exemption, not merely whether laboratory equipment can detect the chemical.

Does a Proposition 65 warning mean a product is unsafe?

Not necessarily. A Proposition 65 warning means the business has determined that California's warning requirement applies, or has chosen to provide a warning based on its compliance assessment. Proposition 65 warning thresholds and methods are specific to California and may differ from federal standards.

A warning does not necessarily mean that a product violates federal safety requirements. Similarly, the absence of a warning should not be interpreted as a guarantee that a product contains no detectable amount of any listed chemical.

Consumers can learn more about specific warnings and chemicals at p65warnings.ca.gov.

What is Merivo doing regarding Proposition 65?

Merivo is committed to product quality, transparency, and responsible compliance. Our quality and Proposition 65 review process includes, as applicable:

• Qualifying ingredient suppliers and reviewing available specifications and certificates of analysis.
• Testing finished products through qualified independent laboratories for heavy metals and other contaminants identified through product-specific risk assessment.
• Reviewing results in relation to the labeled serving size and reasonably anticipated daily exposure, rather than relying only on concentration-based test results.
• Maintaining traceability and quality documentation for production lots.
• Periodically reviewing formulations, suppliers, test methods, and changes to California requirements.
• Providing a Proposition 65 warning before purchase and on product packaging when our assessment determines that a warning is required.

Products displaying the NSF Certified for Sport® mark have been certified as the specific products identified in NSF's official certification records. NSF certification and Proposition 65 are separate programs; certification does not replace a product-specific Proposition 65 exposure assessment.

Why might products differ in whether they carry a warning?

Different products may contain different ingredients, serving sizes, sourcing profiles, formulations, or anticipated exposure levels. Testing and legal assessments can also differ among companies. For these reasons, two products in the same general category may not display identical warnings.

Merivo does not add or remove a Proposition 65 warning solely because another brand uses one, or does not. We evaluate our products based on product-specific information and applicable requirements.

Where will Merivo display a warning?

When a Proposition 65 warning is required, Merivo will provide it in accordance with applicable California requirements. For online purchases, this may include a warning on the relevant product page or within the purchase flow before the transaction is completed, as well as on the product label or packaging when required.

This informational page is not a substitute for a product-specific warning.

Questions

If you have questions about a Proposition 65 warning on a Merivo product, contact us with the product name, lot number, and your question:

Merivo, operated by Kwon & Sharifian LLC
Washington UBI: 605 943 480

• Email: merivoofficial@livemerivo.com
• Phone: (425) 569-0436

This page provides general information and is not intended as legal, medical, or toxicological advice.