Held and Belkin Intl Settle Re: DEHP in Cables

Anthony E. Held, Ph.D, P.E. and Belkin International, a major manufacturer of consumer electronics and connectivity devices, have reached a settlement agreement for alleged violations of Proposition 65.  Held alleged that Belkin offered for sale in California vinyl/PVC coated cables used with security locks that contained the phthalate chemical DEHP, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects and/or other reproductive harm.  Proposition 65 mandates that companies offering products for sale in California that contain such chemicals must provide consumers with a warning of the risk of exposure.

In addition to civil penalties, Belkin has agreed to sell only vinyl/PVC coated cables in California that have been reformulated to be virtually free of DEHP.  Should Belkin accelerate the reformulation and certify to Held that it is complete by August 1, 2015, Held has agreed to waive a part of the civil fine.

The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest, commence actions against businesses offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm without first providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65. Citizen enforcers bringing Proposition 65 actions in the public interest may obtain a Court Judgment imposing civil penalties, an injunction requiring reformulation of products, and/or provision of health hazard warnings. The Chanler Group has represented citizen enforcers of Proposition 65 for more than twenty years.