AHPA Reports from Prop 65 Frontline

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) remains on the front line of the California Prop 65 issue, as its president attended recent meetings in California on the topic and the group issued an updated backgrounder on the topic. The revised “Background on California Proposition 65: Issues related to heavy metals and herbal products” document is available for download by AHPA members online.

Michael McGuffin, president of AHPA, attended two meetings in early December held by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to provide input on the topic of warnings for food products that contain Prop 65-listed chemicals and on regulations that would provide exceptions to Prop 65 chemicals. “AHPA appreciates OEHHA’s investment of resources in trying to craft regulations that can work for both marketers of foods, and for each of us as food consumers,” McGuffin said. “Pragmatic options should be developed to provide clear and reasonable warnings for the many foods that may require warnings under California law without branding grocery stores as dangerous places.”