On 30 October 2026, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) published three notices of intent to list certain chemicals – PFAS – under Proposition 65. The consultation period is open until 30 November.
As a reminder, Proposition 65 (the 1986 Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act) requires companies to provide warning labels to prevent consumers from being exposed to chemicals listed as carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction.
PFAS under Proposition 65
The three notices of intent published on 30 October concern:
• Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)
• Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
• Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)
All three are targeted due to their potential for reproductive toxicity.
The Californian authorities have published the text of these notices online and launched a one-month public consultation.
If they are ultimately included on the Proposition 65 list, these three substances will join the PFAS already listed there:
• Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
• Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
• Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
• Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
PFAS elsewhere in the world
For the record, France, through Law No. 2025-188 and its Implementing Decree, has enacted a ban on PFAS, particularly in cosmetic products, which has been in force since 1 January 2026.
New Zealand has also banned PFAS in cosmetics; this ban applies from 31 December 2026 for products placed on the market and from 31 December 2027 for products made available on the market.
