Changes to Proposition 65 may impact food packaging manufacturers

On a daily basis, we use products that contain warning and caution labels on the packaging, such as, “WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of Connecticut to cause cancer and birth defects and other reproductive harm.”

In California, regulation of these labels is known as Proposition 65. California has proposed changes to this regulation that will most likely deeply impact food packaging and food packagers.

Proposition 65 was the hot topic of the 2018 WestPack conference.

Packaging Digest has the inside scoop from Presenter Mitzi Ng Clark, partner, Keller and Heckman LLP. Part of the Q&A focused on packaging materials:

Interviewer: “What’s the backdrop to the regulation relative to food packaging?

Clark: “When it comes to packaging, California’s Proposition 65, formally known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is one of the state’s most well-known regulations. The law requires California to publish a list of chemicals “known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity” and prohibits a company from knowingly exposing any individual to a listed chemical without first providing a “clear and reasonable warning” to such individual unless the exposure is below a “safe harbor”—that is, a no significant risk level (NSRL) for a carcinogen or a Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) for a reproductive toxicant. There is the potential for Proposition 65 enforcement to affect packaging materials due to the presence of bisphenol-a, lead, acrylamide, styrene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, vinyl chloride and other listed chemicals that may be present in packaging materials.”

To view the entire Q&A click here.

These changes will be a HUGE concern for some packaging companies. Amgraph has already been working on the solution. As a company focused on sustainability, we consider the health of the end user and environment in every product we create. For example, our tea structure will allow our customers to remove chemicals and still have an appealing package. Additionally, use of water-based inks and adhesives can eliminate toxicity in packaging.

Those are just a couple ways that Amgraph works with our customers to stay ahead of environmental regulations. Together we can create products that are safe, reliable, healthy and attractive for consumers and for the planet.