Q: Why is there a warning on the packaging for my Draper gymnasium equipment product that the product may cause cancer or reproductive harm?
A: The warning is necessary due to a California law known as the “California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986,” or simply “Proposition 65.” Proposition 65 requires that a warning be given when a product contains certain chemicals designated by the State of California, even if only in extremely low, trace amounts, and even if they do not make the product unsafe. The list of chemicals designated by the State of California has grown to include over 900 chemicals, many of which are commonly found in products ranging from potato chips and balsamic vinegar to luggage.
Q: Does this mean my Draper product is not safe to use?
A: No. California has acknowledged that "[t]he fact that a product bears a Proposition 65 warning does not mean by itself that the product is unsafe." See Proposition 65 in Plain Language. (https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/general-info/proposition-65-plain-language).
Q: If my Draper product is safe to use, why include the warning?
A: Proposition 65 requires companies to provide a consumer notice for exposures to listed chemicals unless the company can prove that exposure levels are 1000 times less than a scientifically-established safe level. While the exposure level of Prop 65-listed chemicals from the use of Draper’s products may be well below the level of no observable effect, proving that exposure is 1000 times less than this threshold can be difficult and costly on a per product basis. Consequently, Draper has, out of an abundance of caution, opted to provide the Proposition 65 consumer notice on our gymnasium equipment when sold in California. The reason we have provided this warning on gym equipment and not on our other products is that our gymnasium equipment may contact human skin in the course of normal use. Skin contact with other Draper products is minimal when the products are used as designed.
Draper has historically evaluated our products to ensure customer safety and satisfaction We want to assure you that we remain committed to product safety and quality, and to improve our products in all aspects.
For more information about Proposition 65, visit: www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65