California Safe Consumer Products Bills (AB 1879 and SB 509)

On September 29, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law two bills designed to protect state residents from hazardous chemicals in consumer goods. These new consumer product safety bills will establish a process to regulate chemicals linked to breast cancer and other adverse health effects such as birth defects and developmental delays.

AB 1879: Identify and Regulate Chemicals of Concern

AB 1879, authored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer, will give the state of California the authority to more strictly regulate chemicals found in consumer products. This bill will authorize the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to develop a public and participatory process to identify and prioritize a list of chemicals of concern, and to develop a process to regulate those chemicals.

AB 1879 will:

• Establish a list of chemicals of concern to the state;
• Prioritize those chemicals based on volume, potential for exposure and impact on sensitive subpopulations such as infants and children;
• Design an alternatives analysis process to evaluate and, if necessary, regulate these chemicals of concern in consumer products; and
• Establish a science panel to advise the program development.

SB 509: Create an Online Hazard Database

SB 509 will authorize the state to create an online clearinghouse of hazard and other information on chemicals. This clearinghouse will allow businesses and consumers to search for a chemical and learn the hazards associated with it. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) will lead a participatory process to determine what hazard information will be included in the clearinghouse.

Bill Status

Both bills have been signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. Please check back for information about when the bills will be implemented.

September 29 signing press release »
Read the full text of AB 1879 »
Read the full text of SB 509 »