This guidance document clarifies terms and references used in the Principles for Chemical Ingredient Disclosure
Accessibility includes the following:
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Making chemical ingredient information available, to the greatest extent possible, at point of purchase;
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Posting all chemical ingredient information online in a searchable and easily accessible format;
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Providing consistent chemical ingredient information in accordance with these Principles; and
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Providing this information in multiple languages and through assistive technology to the greatest extent possible. “Assistive technology” is “products, equipment, and systems that enhance learning, working, and daily living for persons with disabilities” (https://www.atia.org/home/at-resources/what-is-at/ accessed 6/4/2020).
Chemicals of concern: substances that are known or suspected hazards to human health or the environment, for example, carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive/developmental toxicants, endocrine disruptors, asthmagens, and allergens.
Chemicals in products: includes both intentionally-added chemical ingredients and nonfunctional constituents.
Intentionally added chemical ingredient: “a chemical that a manufacturer has intentionally added to a designated product and that has a functional or technical effect in the designated product, including, but not limited to, the components of intentionally added fragrance ingredients and colorants and intentional breakdown products of an added chemical that also have a functional or technical effect in the designated product” (Source: State of California, Senate Bill No. 258, Cleaning Product Right to Know Act, October 15, 2017).
Chemical hazard characteristics as defined by:
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Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling hazard phrases (H-phrases) or
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GreenScreen® for Safer Chemical and GreenScreen scores.
For example, H-phrases are contained within a GHS compliant Product Safety Sheet and/or can be separately shared; and GreenScreen scores are listed in Health Product Declarations (HPDs).
Incidental component:
(1) a chemical which was added during the manufacturing process at any point in a product, a raw material, or an ingredient’s supply chain, but which has no functional or technical effect in the finished product, including an unreacted chemical; or
(2) a chemical present in the environment as a contaminant which was introduced into a product, a raw material, or a product ingredient at any point in the supply chain for the product, raw material, or ingredient, as a result of the use of an environmental medium, such as a naturally occurring mineral, air, soil, or water, in the manufacturing process.
Nonfunctional constituent: a chemical that has no functional or technical effect on the designated product and is present as an incidental component of an intentionally added ingredient, a breakdown product of an intentionally added ingredient, or a byproduct of the manufacturing process.
Specified list of chemicals of concern: companies disclose ingredients as chemicals of concern using one or more of the following lists:
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California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017 (SB 258) Designated List (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB258) or California Cosmetic Fragrance and Flavor Right to Know Act (SB 312) (both laws reference the same designated lists) (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB312#:~:text=Cosmetic%20Fragrance%20and%20Flavor%20Ingredient%20Right%20to%20Know%20Act%20of%202020.,-Existing%20law%2C%20the&text=The%20bill%20would%2C%20commencing%20January,and%20its%20associated%20health%20hazards);
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ChemSec SIN List (https://sinlist.chemsec.org/);
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GreenScreen List Translator LT-1 and Benchmark 1 chemicals (https://www.greenscreenchemicals.org/learn/greenscreen-list-translator); or
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New York State Lists of Chemicals of Concern (https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/cpidbmps.pdf).
Supply chain: “a system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities involve the transformation of natural resources, raw materials, and components into a finished product that is delivered to the end customer. In sophisticated supply chain systems, used products may re-enter the supply chain at any point where residual value is recyclable” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain accessed 3/19/2020).
