Is Your Packaging Putting You at Risk?

When it comes to product safety and compliance, packaging is often the silent threat. While many companies focus on product formulation, California Proposition 65 also requires businesses to consider chemical exposure risks from packaging materials. These hidden hazards—from BPA in can linings to phthalates in adhesives—can trigger fines, lawsuits, or product reformulations if not proactively addressed.

At FSVPServices.com, we help companies safeguard their brand and their consumers by offering Packaging Material & Exposure Assessments that detect and evaluate risks before they become legal or public relations problems.

What Is Proposition 65?

California Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) mandates businesses to provide warnings if their products expose consumers to chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. More than 900 chemicals are currently listed—including many found in packaging materials such as:

• Bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic and epoxy linings
• Phthalates in seals, adhesives, and flexible plastics
• Lead and cadmium in inks or pigments
• Styrene in foam and polystyrene packaging

The law applies not only to the product inside, but to any component of packaging that may come into contact with the product or the consumer.

What Does a Packaging Exposure Assessment Include?

At FSVPServices.com, our Packaging Material & Exposure Assessment service is designed to identify and quantify potential risks associated with your packaging, based on:

✅ Material composition (e.g., plastic, metal, cardboard, foam)
✅ Presence of Prop 65-listed chemicals
✅ Labeling, printing inks, adhesives, and coatings
✅ Headspace interaction (chemical migration into the airspace of sealed packaging)
✅ Chemical migration potential into food, supplements, cosmetics, or consumer goods
✅ Estimated exposure levels compared to California’s Safe Harbor Levels

Why Headspace and Structure Matter

Many companies overlook headspace interaction—the transfer of volatile chemicals from seals or linings into the air inside a closed package. This can lead to indirect exposure even if the packaging never physically touches the product. Likewise, layered packaging structures may allow chemicals to migrate over time due to heat, humidity, or shelf-life conditions. We examine the total exposure pathway, helping you determine whether a warning label is required—or if changes are needed to packaging design or sourcing.

Benefits of a Proactive Review

✔️ Avoid lawsuits and enforcement notices ✔️ Protect consumer health and trust ✔️ Comply with Prop 65 and federal labeling requirements ✔️ Preserve market access in California ✔️ Reduce risk of forced reformulation or recalls

Who Should Use This Service?

• Brand owners and private label companies
• Food, supplement, and cosmetic manufacturers
• Packaging designers and co-packers
• Importers shipping to U.S. retailers or e-commerce platforms

If your product is sold in or shipped to California, you are responsible for ensuring that the packaging does not violate Prop 65 standards—even if you didn’t manufacture the materials.

Protect Your Brand — Before It's Too Late

With increased Prop 65 litigation focused on packaging and labeling, proactive assessment is your best defense. At FSVPServices.com, we provide fast, professional compliance support to help you:

• Review existing packaging
• Plan for new product launches
• Respond to legal threats
• Meet evolving regulatory standards

Ready to Review Your Packaging?

Don’t let overlooked materials become your weakest link in compliance. 👉 Visit FSVPServices.com to book your Packaging Material & Exposure Assessment today.