California Approves Model Law on Cleaning Products

On October 15, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law that requires manufacturers of cleaning projects to list all ingredients on the label and online. Only substances considered confidential business information are exempt from the requirement.

The Cleaning Products Right to Know Act (SB258) is the result of tough negotiations between industry and consumer organizations. According to the Los Angeles Times, the law was revised a dozen times this year. Politicians, industrialists, and stakeholders from organizations are praising the law as a model for the entire United States. For example, California state senator Ricardo Lara states that the law creates clarity for consumers and those who must work with the products every day. Lara, whose mother suffered from the results of exposure to harmful cleaning products, worked passionately for passage of the law.

The law sets clear goals for companies: Ingredients must be listed online no later than January 1, 2020. Listing ingredients on packaging is required as of January 1, 2021. The transition period gives companies time to replace suspicious substances with safe ones.

Ensure the safety of your products as soon as you can. We are happy to provide support at reach@kft.de.