CHAPTER 10. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers [108920. - 108923.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 10.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 108920. Section 108920.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Chemicals known as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are widely used in California. To meet stringent fire standards, manufacturers add BFRs to a multitude of products, including plastic housing of electronics and computers, circuit boards, and the foam and textiles used in furniture. (b) Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), which is a subcategory of BFRs, has increased fortyfold in human breast milk since the 1970s. Women in California carry more PBDEs in their bodies than anyone else studied in the world. (c) PBDE has the potential to disrupt thyroid hormone balance and contribute to a variety of developmental deficits, including low intelligence and learning disabilities. PBDE may also have the potential to cause cancer. (d) Substantial efforts to eliminate BFRs from products have been made throughout the world, including private and public sectors. These efforts have made available numerous alternatives safe to human health while meeting stringent fire standards. To meet market demand, it is in the interest of California manufacturers to eliminate the use of BFRs. (e) In order to protect the public health and the environment, the Legislature believes it is necessary for the state to develop a precautionary approach regarding the production, use, storage, and disposal of products containing brominated fire retardants.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 108921. Section 108921.

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (a) “OctaBDE” means octabrominated diphenyl ether or any technical mixture in which octabrominated diphenyl ether is a predominate congener. (b) “PBDE” means polybrominated diphenyl ether. (c) “PentaBDE” means pentabrominated diphenyl ether or any technical mixture in which pentabrominated diphenyl ether is a predominate congener. (d) “Congener” means a specific PBDE molecule. (e) “Process” does not include the processing of metallic recyclables containing PBDEs that is conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. (f) “Product” means a product manufactured on or after June 1, 2006. (g) “Metallic recyclable” has the same meaning as a metallic discard, as defined in Section 42161 of the Public Resources Code. (h) “Recycle” has the same meaning as defined in Section 40180 of the Public Resources Code. (i) “Technical mixture” means a PBDE mixture that is sold to a manufacturer. A technical mixture is named for the predominant congener in the mixture, but is not exclusively made up of that congener.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 108922. Section 108922.

On and after June 1, 2006, a person may not manufacture, process, or distribute in commerce a product, or a flame-retarded part of a product, containing more than one-tenth of 1 percent of pentaBDE or octaBDE, except for products containing small quantities of PBDEs that are produced or used for scientific research on the health or environmental effects of PBDEs.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 108923. Section 108923.

On or before March 1, 2004, the Senate Office of Research shall submit to the President pro Tempore of the Senate and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee recommendations regarding the regulation of PBDE, including relevant findings and rulings by the European Union.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026