The California Plastic Bag Ban Veto Referendum, also known as Proposition 67, was passed on the November 8, 2016 ballot in California as a veto referendum for Senate Bill 270 (SB 270).

SB 270 is a law that prohibited certain retail stores statewide from providing single-use carryout bags to customers. Per SB 270, stores may sell or distribute a reusable grocery bag to a customer at the point of sale only if the reusable bag is made by a producer certified to meet all of the following requirements:

1. Has a handle and is designed for at least 125 uses.
2. Has a volume capacity of at least 15 liters.
3. Is machine washable or made from a material that can be cleaned and disinfected.
4. Some important information such as manufacture name etc. has printed on the bag, or on a tag attached to the bag that is not intended to be removed, and in a manner visible to the consumer.
5. Does not contain lead, cadmium, or any other toxic material that may pose a threat to public health. A reusable bag manufacturer may demonstrate compliance with this requirement by obtaining a no objection letter from the federal Food and Drug Administration. 
6. Complies with 16 CFR 260.12 if the reusable grocery bag producer makes a claim that the reusable grocery bag is recyclable.

There are also other specified requirements on material, loading, size etc for reusable grocery bag made from plastic film and reusable grocery bag not made from plastic film.

Certified by a third-party certification entity

The producer of reusable grocery bags made from plastic film shall not sell or distribute a reusable grocery bag in California unless the producer is certified by a third-party certification entity pursuant to above requirements.

SB 270 also requires a reusable grocery bag producer to provide proof of certification to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. A reusable grocery bag producer shall resubmit to the department proof of certification on a biennial basis and provide the department with an ｕｐｄａｔｅd proof of certification conducted by a third-party certification entity if any modification that is not solely aesthetic is made to a previously certified reusable bag.

A reusable grocery bag producer also shall submit certified test results to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery confirming that the reusable grocery bag meets the requirements for each type of reusable grocery bag that is manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed in the state and provided to a store for sale or distribution.

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Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Through our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 42,000 people in more than 100 countries, the Group is redefining the industry with our Total Quality Assurance proposition. We go beyond physical quality control to provide total peace of mind through our innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise delivered consistently, with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.
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About Intertek

Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.

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