Substance group
What counts as Designated chemicals?
Only California (US state) defines Designated chemicals in its law. Read the definition below. You tell us if your product contains it; we never guess from its name.
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Group
Definitions
(b)“Designated list” means the list of chemicals identified as candidate chemicals that exhibit a hazard trait or an environmental or toxicological endpoint
- Definition
- Designated list means the list of chemicals identified as candidate chemicals that exhibit a hazard trait or an environmental or toxicological endpoint that meets the criteria in regulations adopted by the Department of Toxic Substances Control under Health & Safety Code 25251 et seq., published on the Department's internet website. Intentionally added chemical means a chemical a manufacturer has intentionally added to a product that has a functional or technical effect in the product, including components of intentionally added chemicals and intentional breakdown products of an added chemical that also have a functional or technical effect. Stored membership is partial: the PFAS class (DTSC Candidate Chemicals list, CalSAFER record 22892) only; the other candidate chemicals are not enumerated, so "no PFAS" does not mean "no designated chemical".
- Listed members
- group:pfas
- Source
(b)“Designated list” means the list of chemicals identified as candidate chemicals that exhibit a hazard trait or an environmental or toxicological endpoint
HSC 109010(b) (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-08California Legislature: HSC 109010(b)(opens in a new tab)
Rules
Rules that use this definition
6 rules.
Label required
list of intentionally added designated-list chemicals in the handle or food-contact surface, introduced by 'This product contains:'; statement in English and Spanish: "For more information about chemicals in this product, visit"; website address of a page with the information required by section 109012; QR or other machine-readable code storing that web address
Exemptions (1)
Cookware with a surface too small for a 2 sq in label and with no wrapper or tag is exempt, but the online listing must still carry the statement.
“(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), cookware that meets both of the following requirements is exempt from the requirements of this section:”
Official text, current to 4 Oct 2026. California Legislature's own statute data (leginfo bulk download, updated 2026-10-04).
- Your role: Manufacturer
- The cookware contains one or more intentionally added chemicals present on the designated list in the handle or in any product surface that comes into contact with food, foodstuffs, or beverages
Depends on: economic operator role
In force since 1 Jan 2024
Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2024
The label duty is for designated-list chemicals generally, not only PFAS.
“(a) Commencing on January 1, 2024, a manufacturer of cookware sold in the state that contains one or more intentionally added chemicals present on the designated list in the handle of the product or in any product surface that comes into contact with food, foodstuffs, or beverages shall list the presence of those chemicals on the product label.”
- LabelUS-CADesignated chemicals as defined in California (US state)
Label required
list of intentionally added designated-list chemicals in the handle or food-contact surface, introduced by 'This product contains:'; statement in English and Spanish: "For more information about chemicals in this product, visit"; website address of a page with the information required by section 109012; QR or other machine-readable code storing that web address
Exemptions (1)
Cookware with a surface too small for a 2 sq in label and with no wrapper or tag is exempt, but the online listing must still carry the statement.
“(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), cookware that meets both of the following requirements is exempt from the requirements of this section:”
HSC 109011(c)(1) · fetched 2026-10-08California Legislature: Cal. Health & Safety Code 109000, 109010-109014(opens in a new tab) Official text, current to 4 Oct 2026. California Legislature's own statute data (leginfo bulk download, updated 2026-10-04).
- Applies when
- Your role: Manufacturer
- The cookware contains one or more intentionally added chemicals present on the designated list in the handle or in any product surface that comes into contact with food, foodstuffs, or beverages
Depends on: economic operator role
- Effective
In force since 1 Jan 2024
Applies to products sold on or after 1 Jan 2024
The label duty is for designated-list chemicals generally, not only PFAS.
- Source
“(a) Commencing on January 1, 2024, a manufacturer of cookware sold in the state that contains one or more intentionally added chemicals present on the designated list in the handle of the product or in any product surface that comes into contact with food, foodstuffs, or beverages shall list the presence of those chemicals on the product label.”
HSC 109011(a) · fetched 2026-10-08California Legislature: Cal. Health & Safety Code 109000, 109010-109014(opens in a new tab)
See also
Related
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