June 13, 2020 - The Californian Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has issued a Safe Use Determination (SUD) for bisphenol A (BPA) in certain polycarbonate eyewear products.
The SUD covers exposure relating to BPA from a variety of eyewear products by companies who are members of The Vision Council (TVC). Products include:
• Prescription glasses and sunglasses
• Over-the counter (OTC) reading glasses
• Non-prescription sunglasses
• Safety glasses
Issued in April 2020, the SUD follows an evaluation of eyewear products that used acetonitrile as the solvent. It was found that BPA exposure estimates from the temple, nose pad, frame and lens of these products fell below the ‘Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) of 3 µg/day (dermal exposure from solid materials). These products therefore do not require a warning label under California’s Proposition 65 (Prop 65). Prop 65 is the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’, a unique ballot initiative that passed overwhelmingly in November 1986.
BPA has been listed on the Prop 65 List of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm, since May 2015. It is listed as a chemical known to cause female reproductive toxicity. Since May 2016, there have been several enforcement actions against businesses that fail to warn consumers about exposure to BPA. This has resulted in multiple settlement agreements.
SGS Prop 65 Services
With a global network of laboratories, SGS can offer comprehensive testing, product assessment and consultancy services related to California Proposition 65. SGS can assist your risk management strategy in consumer goods, such as DIYs, electrical and electronics, hardgoods products, juvenile products, and textile & toy products. Learn more about SGS’s Prop 65 Services. [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/hardgoods/diy-tools-and-hardware/california-proposition-65]
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full California Issues SUD for BPA in Certain Polycarbonate Eyewear Products SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2020/05/safeguards-07220-california-issues-sud-for-bpa-in-certain-polycarbonate-eyewear-products]
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