Prop 65 in 2025: Why California’s Warning Labels Can’t Be Ignored
If you sell products in California, chances are you’ve seen the infamous warning: “This product may cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.” That’s California’s Proposition 65 at work. On the surface, it looks like a simple labeling law. In reality, it’s a compliance minefield that catches businesses off guard every year.
What Prop 65 is really about
Prop 65 requires businesses to provide “clear and reasonable” warnings if their products contain any chemicals on California’s ever-expanding list of substances linked to cancer or reproductive harm. That list now has over 900 chemicals, and it keeps growing.
Why it matters in 2025
California doesn’t wait for federal laws. It sets its own rules, and they’re often stricter than anywhere else. For businesses, that means products that pass compliance checks in other states or countries can still trigger Prop 65 requirements in California.
Ignoring it isn’t an option. Companies that fail to provide warnings face lawsuits, heavy penalties, and the kind of legal headaches that drain budgets and reputations fast. And here’s the kicker: many lawsuits aren’t filed by regulators, they’re filed by private law firms that make money off non-compliant companies.
Where businesses slip up
Trusting suppliers blindly. Many assume their supplier has tested for Prop 65 substances. Often, they haven’t.
One-and-done testing. Chemicals change with new batches and new suppliers. Testing once doesn’t guarantee long-term compliance.
Slapping on labels “just in case.” Over-labeling creates consumer confusion and can damage trust.
How to stay ahead of Prop 65
Test proactively. Know what’s in your products before the lawsuits find you.
Keep clean records. Documentation is your first line of defense in audits or legal action.
Work with suppliers, not against them. Make compliance a shared responsibility.
The bigger picture
Prop 65 isn’t going away. In fact, with consumer awareness growing, it’s only getting stricter. Businesses that treat it as more than a nuisance, those that build reliable testing and documentation systems, don’t just avoid lawsuits; they build credibility with customers who value safety.
At The 3TGs, we help businesses cut through Prop 65 confusion. From supplier engagement to product testing and reporting, we turn compliance into a system you can trust instead of a scramble you dread.
If Prop 65 feels like a lawsuit waiting to happen, let us handle it. Contact info@3tgs.org and delegate your compliance with confidence.