Q: I've seen a warning on the back of some AFW packaging. What is this all about?
A: The warning you see, "This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm" specifically refers to a California law entitled Proposition 65. Since space on our packaging in slimited, we refer customers to our website to explain what this means.
In November 1986, Californians approved an initiative (Proposition 65) to address exposure to toxic materials. More than 750 chemicals, some of which are naturally occurring and some synthetic, have been included in Proposition 65. Under this law, businesses are required to provide a "clear and reasonable" warning before knowingly or intentionally exposing anyone to a listed chemical.
All companies that sell products in the State of California are required to comply with Proposition 65 labeling. It doesn't matter how much or how little of a substance exists in any product: if it has any at all, or may contain any, it must be labeled with this warning.
Proposition 65 is not a requirement of any other state, and it is NOT a mandate of the United States Government or any of its departments. Because AFW cannot control the final destination of our products, we voluntarily apply warning labels to the products that fall under Proposition 65 in the event they are purchased in California.
Many of AFW components are nickel coated. Some of the components from AFW are also made of brass. Some types of brass contain minute amounds of lead. In some cases, minute amounts of lead have been found in handles of tools. Consumers concerned about these chemicals may take steps to reduce exposure to them:
AFW is working hard to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the levels of these chemicals in our products. We hope this explanation helps clarify the requirement of Proposition 65 and the need for our product warning labels. The Proposition 65 list is updated at least once a year. For specific information on Proposition 65, please consult the State of California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).
