Prop 65 safe harbor levels are levels of certain listed chemicals that the California OEHHA has considered acceptable to be present in a product without a label or in drinking water sources. Currently, there are over 300 listed chemicals with safe harbor levels and OEHHA is continuing to develop more.
Safe harbor levels were developed to help businesses determine if they must comply with Prop 65. The levels consist of two categories: No Significant Risk Levels (for listed cancer-causing chemicals) and Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (for chemicals listed as causing birth defects or other reproductive harm). Businesses are exempt if exposure to a chemical occurs at or below the safe harbor levels.
Based on business operations and chemical usage, businesses can review the Prop 65 list to determine if their operations or products could expose Californians to any listed chemicals. If the exposure level is found to be greater than the safe harbor levels, businesses must provide a warning. The same process applies to drinking water sources - if exposure is beyond the safe harbor levels, businesses are prohibited from discharging listed chemicals into drinking water sources.