In early September 2021, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) issued two California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) 60-day notices relating to the presence of bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby, children’s and women’s socks made primarily of polyester with Spandex.

Prop 65, or the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’, is a unique piece of legislation passed in November 1986. It requires the state to maintain a list of chemicals (Prop 65 List) known to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm. Unless exempted, businesses operating in California must provide ‘a clear and reasonable warning’ (Prop 65 Warning) before knowingly and intentionally exposing anyone to a substance on the Prop 65 List, which now contains over 900 chemicals. Unless exempted, companies have twelve months to comply with this requirement once a substance is included in the Prop 65 List.

BPA was added to the list in 2015. It is mostly used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Other identified sources of BPA are thermal paper and the production of flame retardants and PVC. BPA is not traditionally considered a high-risk chemical in textile fibers.

The two 60-day notices were sent out on September 1 and September 10, 2021. They list over 70 companies whose products have been shown in testing to have levels exceeding the safety limit for BPA. This is the first-time notices have been issued for BPA in textiles.

CEH is an American non-profit organization working to protect children and families from harmful chemicals in air, food, water and in everyday products.

SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories, including 10 in China, specializing in testing of apparel, footwear, and home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical, chemical, and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance, and compliance with international, industrial, and regulatory standards worldwide. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services. [www.sgs.com/softlines]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full U.S. California Prop 65 60-Day Notices on Bisphenol-A (BPA) in Socks SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2021/09/safeguards-13021-us-california-prop-65-60-day-notices-on-bisphenol-a-bpa-in-socks]

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For further information contact:

Louann Spirito
Consumer and Retail - Softlines
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel: +1 973 461 7919
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

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