Cal Prop 65, Cooper Standard ISG and You:

Customers in the industrial sealing and fluid handling space face constant pressure to meet evolving standards from regulatory agencies, certifying bodies, and industry groups. Cooper Standard ISG stays ahead by proactively monitoring these requirements, developing compliant materials, submitting documentation, and helping customers avoid penalties while entering global markets profitably.

We offer ready-to-use alternative materials, in-house compounding and profile design expertise, and advanced Finite Element Analysis to support any need.
In this blog series, we will discuss the organizations and requirements that most frequently impact our products and our customers, including ASTM; UL; California OEHHA’s Prop 65; the European Chemical Agency’s REACH and RoHS; PFAS mandates; Responsible Minerals;   and, finally, the FDA, along with some of its international analogs and the certifying body NSF.

In each blog post, we will discuss some of the responsibilities that requirements might place upon customers in particular industries, and how Cooper Standard ISG expertise can help ensure that our partners’ seals, fluid handling systems and all related components meet every demand.

In this blog post, we will focus on California Proposition 65.

Besides ASTM, , California Proposition 65 is one of the most frequently asked-about regulations because all manufacturers serving U.S. markets must assume their products will be sold in California. The Act carries penalties up to $2,500 per day per violation, and affected products cannot be sold in the state until corrected, leading to significant costs from lost revenue, mediation, and brand damage.

Complying with the Act’s labeling requirements is challenging and highly visible. If a product contains any targeted substances, it must display a prominent warning label with a yellow triangle and the message: “This product can expose you to chemicals including [name of one or more chemicals], which is [are] known to the State of California to cause [cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm.] For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.”

This kind of language can be frightening or daunting to the average consumer, and can deter sales, especially when they are choosing between two products and only one carries a warning label.

Right To Know

And that’s the point— California’s Proposition 65 was introduced in 1986 as a “right to know” law, so people could have a better idea of what was in the products they buy and make more informed decisions. The full name of Proposition 65 is the “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986,” administered by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). OEHHA also maintains and updates the official list of chemicals, which is updated annually and has grown to include more than 900 substances. The Office also provides guidance to businesses and the public and works with the California District Attorney to investigate potential violations. It’s important to note that any district attorney or large city attorney can also move to enforce Proposition 65.

The Right Information

At Cooper Standard ISG, we stay current on Cal Prop 65 requirements and identify products that could be impacted. We help ensure accurate reporting at your preferred level of caution.  Some listed substances may only be present in trace amounts below reporting thresholds - for example,   a curative used in extrusion is mostly consumed, making its presence above the threshold unlikely. Since the mandate focuses on “airborne, unbound particles of respirable size,”  and curatives are typically bound in the polymer matrix, reporting may not be necessary. For extra caution, we can assist with extractables testing or help you include warning labels as desired.

In many cases, we have developed viable alternatives to targeted chemicals. Sometimes, customers must weigh trade-offs, such as cost, processability or performance. As a compounder, we can also custom develop new alternatives on a case-by-case basis, and have been highly successful at creating effective, innovative formulas.

When it comes to California Prop 65 and other regulatory needs, Cooper Standard ISG is a knowledgeable and proactive partner. Contact us for your next sealing or fluid-handling component project—we’re ready to help.