Proposition 65 Consumer Product Warning Readiness
Use the current warning content, plan the 2028 short-form change and renew written notices with receipt confirmation.
In Short
- Name a chemical in the warning.
- Old short form: made before 2028.
- Renew written notices yearly.
The Consumer Products Guide
The right parts. Tested products. The right box on the truck.
- Which rules reach your product
- Suppliers, BOM revisions and variants
- Assembly, tests, holds and packaging
We ask for your name and email so we can handle this request. The full guide then opens on this site, ready to translate, print or save. Privacy policy. Practical orientation, not legal advice; your quality unit decides which rules apply.
UltimateFree guide
The Consumer Products Guide
The right parts. Tested products. The right box on the truck.
California's Proposition 65 regulations in Title 27, Article 6 of the California Code of Regulations set what a clear and reasonable consumer product warning looks like and who in the supply chain provides it. This guide covers warning content, short-form labels, online and catalog sales and supplier-to-retailer notices, including the 2028 short-form transition. It does not cover whether a given exposure needs a warning. Orientation, not legal advice. Sources checked 4 Oct 2026.
Who provides the warning
Under 27 CCR 25600.2(b), the manufacturer, producer, packager, importer, supplier or distributor can comply either by a warning on the product label or labeling, or by a written notice to the retailer's authorized agent. The notice states that the product may expose people to listed chemicals, identifies the product exactly, includes all warning materials and is renewed every year the product is sold in California.
More on who provides the warning
Receipt must be confirmed, and a further notice is due within 90 days when a different chemical or endpoint is added. The retailer then places and maintains the materials it receives.
Full Warning Content
Section 25603(a) sets the full warning: a black exclamation point in a yellow triangle with a bold black outline, placed left of the text, then WARNING:, CA WARNING: or CALIFORNIA WARNING: in bold capitals, followed by the prescribed sentence. That sentence names one or more listed chemicals, says they are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm as applicable, and points to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Warning methods (25602)
| Where | Method |
|---|---|
| On product | Full warning, or short form on the label |
| Online | On product page, marked hyperlink, or prominent before purchase |
| Catalog | Warning clearly associated with the item |
| Via retailer | Written notice with materials, renewed yearly (25600.2) |
- On product
- Method
- Full warning, or short form on the label
- Online
- Method
- On product page, marked hyperlink, or prominent before purchase
- Catalog
- Method
- Warning clearly associated with the item
- Via retailer
- Method
- Written notice with materials, renewed yearly (25600.2)
More on full Warning Content
Product-specific warnings in 25607 and following sections take precedence where they apply.
Short-form labels and the 2028 transition
A short-form warning may appear on the label under 25602(a)(4), in the type size set by 25601(c) and never smaller than 6-point. Under the current 25603(b), the short form must name a chemical, for example 'Can expose you to [name of chemical], a carcinogen.
More on short-form labels and the 2028 transition
See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.' Section 25603(c) lets products manufactured and labelled before 1 January 2028 keep the older short form, such as 'Cancer -- www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.', whenever they are sold.
Online and Catalog Sales
For internet purchases, 25602(b) requires the warning on the product display page, a clearly marked WARNING, CA WARNING or CALIFORNIA WARNING hyperlink on that page, or another prominent display before the purchase is completed; a warning the buyer must search for is not prominent. Until 1 January 2028, a retailer has 60 calendar days after receiving an updated short-form warning to post it online.
More on online and Catalog Sales
Catalogs must show a warning clearly associated with the item under 25602(c).
Keeping warnings in step with products
Warnings drift when formulations, suppliers or listings change. Keep one record per item linking the listed chemical and endpoint your team concluded on, the approved warning text and version, where it appears on pack and online, the notice sent to each retailer, the confirmation received and the renewal date.
Worked Example: Item KP-220 Retailer Notice
- Day 0Notice and warning materials sent to retailer's agent
- Day 3Receipt confirmed by retailer
- ChangeNew chemical identified: further notice within 90 days
- 12 monthsNotice renewed while still sold in California
More on keeping warnings in step with products
When a material or supplier changes, a named person decides whether the warning still fits. The regulations allocate duties; your people make and document each decision.
Questions
Can we keep using 'Cancer -- www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.'?
Only on products manufactured and labelled before 1 January 2028 (25603(c)). The current short form names a chemical (25603(b)).
Can a supplier rely on the retailer to warn?
A supplier may send a compliant written notice with warning materials to the retailer's authorized agent, renewed annually, with receipt confirmed (25600.2(b)-(c)).
Where does the warning go for online sales?
On the product display page, via a clearly marked warning hyperlink there, or otherwise prominently before purchase (25602(b)).
Does this guide decide whether we need a warning?
No. Whether an exposure requires a warning depends on the Act and other regulations not covered here; take legal advice.
Practical orientation, not legal advice. Rules differ by jurisdiction; your quality and compliance team decides what applies.
Keep reading
Global Consumer Product Safety Readiness Guide (2026)
ASTM F963-23 and EU Toy Safety Regulation 2025/2509: Readiness
CPSIA Children's Product Certificate Readiness: Testing, Content and eFiling
EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988: Duties for Manufacturers and Importers
REACH SVHC in Articles and RoHS: Supplier Data Readiness