Priority Products
What is a Priority Product?
A Priority Product is a consumer product identified by DTSC that contains one or more chemicals – known as Candidate Chemicals – that have a hazard trait that can harm people or the environment. A proposed list of three product-chemical combinations was released on March 13, 2014. This initial Priority Products list is the first set of product-chemical combinations DTSC has proposed for regulation under the Safer Consumer Products regulations. Publication of this draft list of products imposes no new regulatory requirements on manufacturers until DTSC finalizes it by adopting regulations. For more information, read DTSC's Draft Initial Priority Products List.
What is the Approach for Prioritization?
DTSC further evaluates the adverse impacts of Candidate Chemicals in specific products on humans, wildlife, and the environment by considering additional factors such as impacts on sensitive populations, waste and end-of-life impacts, and the availability of safer alternatives. The Department does not use a numerical weighting or ranking system.
DTSC considers two primary factors in identifying product-chemical combinations:
- Potential exposure to the Candidate Chemicals in the product
- Potential for exposure to cause significant or widespread adverse impacts
- Provide clear pathways for exposure to one or more Candidate Chemicals;
- Contain chemicals that have been detected in biomonitoring studies;
- Contain chemicals that have been observed in indoor air and dust studies;
- May impact children or workers; or
- Contain chemicals that may adversely impact aquatic resources or that have been observed through water quality monitoring.
What is the Initial Priority Product List?
The initial Priority Products list is the first set of product-chemical combinations DTSC has proposed for regulation under the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) regulations. Publication of this draft list of products imposes no new regulatory requirements on manufacturers until DTSC finalizes it by adopting regulations. For more information, read DTSC's Draft Initial Priority Products List.
For the first list of products, only products with Candidate Chemicals listed on both a hazard trait list and an exposure potential list were considered.
The proposed list of three product-chemical combinations was released on March 13, 2014. The initial list requirements are described fully in section 69503.6 of the SCP regulations.
How Will I Know the Initial Priority Products List is Final?
Priority Products will not be final until they are adopted into regulation. This will be done in conformance with California's rulemaking law – the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The APA process includes a 45-day public notice and comment period. It allows DTSC up to one year from the public notice date to finalize the regulations.
The regulation to list Children's Foam-Padded Sleeping Products with TDCPP or TCEP as a Priority Product became effective on July 1, 2017. The next two Priority Products, Spray Polyurethane Foam with Unreacted MDI and Paint Stripper with Methylene Chloride, will be announced after the have completed the APA process.
SCP Priority Products
Adopted
- Children's Foam-Padded Sleeping Products with TDCPP or TCEP Effective as of 7/1/17
- Spray Polyurethane Foam with Unreacted MDI Effective as of 7/1/18
- Paint or Varnish Paint Strippers Containing Methylene Chloride Effective as of 1/1/19
Proposed
- Carpets and Rugs with Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)
- *Laundry Detergents Containing the Surfactants Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs)
- *Paint and Varnish Strippers and Graffiti Removers Containing N-Methylpyrrolidone
- *Nail Products Containing Toluene
- *Treatments Containing PFASs for Use on Converted Textiles or Leathers
- *Nail Products Containing Methyl Methacrylate
- *Food Packaging Containing PFASs
- *Motor Vehicle Tires Containing Zinc *Pre-regulatory Priority Products