California Prop 65 Testing Services
Testing for Prop 65 listed chemicals including heavy metals, acrylamide, and phthalates for California market compliance.
California Prop 65 testing determines whether products contain chemicals listed under Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act) — including lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, acrylamide, and phthalates — at levels that require consumer warning labels for products sold in California.
California Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act) requires businesses to provide warnings before knowingly exposing consumers to chemicals on the Prop 65 list. Qalitex Laboratories provides targeted Prop 65 testing to determine whether your products require warnings, protecting your brand from enforcement actions and consumer litigation.
What Is Prop 65?
Prop 65 lists over 900 chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. The law applies to any product sold in California, regardless of where it is manufactured. Non-compliance can result in private attorney general lawsuits, fines up to $2,500 per day per violation, and mandatory warning labels.
What We Test For
We test for the most commonly cited Prop 65 chemicals in supplements and personal care products: Lead (MADL: 0.5 μg/day), Cadmium (MADL: 4.1 μg/day), Mercury (MADL: 0.3 μg/day), Arsenic (inorganic, NSRL: 10 μg/day), Acrylamide, Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), and Bisphenol A (BPA).
Safe Harbor Testing
If test results show your product's exposures fall below Prop 65 MADL or NSRL thresholds, you can sell in California without a warning label. Our testing reports include exposure calculations comparing results against Prop 65 limits, providing documentation for your safe harbor defense.
Tests & Methods Included
- ✓ Lead (Pb) — 0.5 μg/day MADL
- ✓ Cadmium (Cd) — 4.1 μg/day MADL
- ✓ Arsenic (inorganic) — NSRL
- ✓ Mercury (Hg) — 0.3 μg/day MADL
- ✓ Acrylamide
- ✓ Phthalates (DEHP, DBP)
- ✓ BPA
Regulatory Standards & Compliance
- California Proposition 65
- ICP-MS OEHHA methods
- EPA and OEHHA test methods
Industries We Serve
- Dietary supplements sold in California
- Cosmetics & personal care
- Food & beverage brands
- Amazon sellers shipping to CA
- Retail brands at national chains
Request a Quote
Pricing depends on your product. Tell us what you need and we'll email a detailed quote within 24 hours.
Get a Quote →"While FDA restrictions play some role in manufacturing decisions, they are not as strict as the guidelines we follow with Beia. Finding the right chemist to help formulate and scale up for mass production was critical."
Brittany Lo
Founder, Beia Beauty
🎙️ Listen: How to Launch a Personal Care Brand on Nourify & Beautify →Frequently Asked Questions
What is California Prop 65?
California Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act) lists over 900 chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm. Any product sold in California must either test below safe harbor levels or carry a Prop 65 warning label.
What chemicals does Prop 65 testing cover?
Qalitex tests for the most commonly cited Prop 65 chemicals in supplements and personal care products: lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic (inorganic), acrylamide, DEHP phthalates, and BPA, using ICP-MS and validated EPA/OEHHA methods.
What is a Prop 65 safe harbor defense?
If test results show your product's exposure levels fall below Prop 65 MADL (Maximum Allowable Dose Level) or NSRL (No Significant Risk Level) thresholds, you can sell in California without a warning label. Qalitex reports include exposure calculations for safe harbor documentation.
Specialized Testing Pages
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Why brands choose Qalitex for california prop 65 testing
48-hr turnaround
Signed CoA in 48–72 hours
Direct scientist access
Talk to the chemist running your tests
No minimums
1 SKU or 100 — same quality
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Get a Testing Quote →Disclaimer: Testing results provided by Qalitex Laboratories are analytical data intended for quality control purposes. They do not constitute legal, regulatory, or compliance advice. Clients are solely responsible for ensuring their products comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Consult qualified regulatory counsel for compliance decisions.