California Proposition 65 (also known as Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act) was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. Prop 65 businesses are required to provide a "clear and reasonable" warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing anyone to a listed chemical “Known to the State” to cause cancer or reproductive harm.

Ceramic products, as traditional materials for food contact, are ubiquitous in the daily lives of people worldwide. Items such as bowls, cups, soup pots, tea sets, knives, ladles, plates, and dishes are commonly made of ceramic materials. Ceramics are generally perceived by the public as safe, non-toxic, and healthy materials for daily life. They come in diverse shapes, with smooth and delicate surfaces, vibrant colors, and are easy to clean, making them highly favored by many. However, ceramic products still pose safety risks, primarily stemming from the glazing process. Glazes often contain sodium silicate and metal salts, and coloring pigments may also include metal salts, leading to the potential leaching of heavy metals. Therefore, countries worldwide have established clear regulatory requirements for ceramic products.

Dechlorane Plus (DP) is an additive flame retardant widely used in polymer materials such as plastics and fibers due to its excellent colorability, thermal stability, outstanding electrical properties, and low smoke emission. However, as significant risks of exposure to humans and the environment associated with DP have been confirmed, various regions globally have initiated actions to control this substance. Many export-oriented electronic product companies have already started supply chain investigations regarding this substance.

Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released enforcement actions taken nationwide in 2023 to protect children and their families from health hazards associated with exposure to lead paint. Cases included an Indiana contractor sentenced to jail for violating lead paint regulations and a renovation company in Anchorage, Alaska fined $25,609. EPA's enforcement actions aim to ensure that remodeling contractors, landlords, property management companies, and real estate agents comply with rules safeguarding the public from lead exposure in paint.

EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is a Type III environmental declaration that complies with ISO 14025 standards. It is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a product or service, quantitatively presenting its environmental impact. It serves as a voluntary declaration of the product's environmental impact throughout its life cycle. The international EPD system originated in Sweden and is operated by EPD International AB. Based on internationally standardized regulations, EPD is a globally recognized, quantifiably comparable, trustworthy, and verifiable technical document providing environmental performance data to various stakeholders. The EPD system is currently the most widely used environmental declaration worldwide, encompassing nearly all products and services.

On September 28, 2023, U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an important new rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), requiring manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to provide more data for better regulation. PFASs are a large class of chemically stable organic fluorides known for their water and stain resistance, as well as good insulation. They find extensive use in various industrial sectors, including food packaging, electronics, leather and apparel, construction and household applications, firefighting, and medical supplies. However, PFASs are persistent and migrate in the environment, making them difficult to degrade. They are also called persistent chemicals and have posed a significant threat to human health and the ecological environment.

On October 13, 2023, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) released the toy safety standard ASTM F963-23. Currently, the federal regulation 16 CFR 1250 still adopts ASTM F963-17.

In July 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final rule on "Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Requirements for Asbestos Reporting and Records" which mandates specific companies to report relevant information on asbestos and asbestos-containing products (including as impurities) manufactured (including imports) or processed in the past four years.

On June 16, 2023, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) intended to list anthracene (CAS: 120-12-7), 2-bromopropane (CAS: 75-26-3), and dimethyl hydrogen phosphite (CAS: 868-85-9) as known to the state to cause cancer.

Minnesota has passed a restriction bill for PFAS with a vote of 72 in favor and 57 against in the House of Representatives, and 35 in favor and 32 against in the Senate. On May 19th, the restriction bill was submitted to the governor. If the bill (HF 2310) becomes law, Minnesota will become the first state in the Midwest to mandate disclosure and comprehensive restrictions on products containing intentionally added PFAS substances.