California Considering Further Restrictions on VOCs in Consumer Products

The draft proposal also contemplates eliminating the 2% fragrance exemption, which excludes fragrances contained in any consumer product, up to a combined level of 2% by weight, from the applicable VOC limits.[4] Data collected during CARB’s 2015 Consumer and Commercial Products Survey suggests that almost 75% of regulated products do not currently use the fragrance exemption. Nevertheless, the staff recognizes that the exemption may remain a potentially crucial means of compliance flexibility for product categories subject to extremely low VOC limits (e.g., 0.5%) such as general purpose cleaner and degreasers. Accordingly, they continue to evaluate the need to maintain the exemption, albeit likely reduced from 2%, for these categories. 

As Table 1 above indicates, the staff also is considering first-time limits for no-rinse shampoos. Other product categories that remain under consideration to help meet the 2031 VOC limits include, but are not limited to:

(*) Floor Wax Stripper
(*) Aerosol Cooking Spray
(*) Laundry Detergent and Liquid Fabric Softener
(*) Anti-microbial Dry Hand Wash (Hand Sanitizer)
(*) Aerosol Sunscreen
(*) Mouthwash and Rinse
(*) Automatic Air Fresheners
(*) Antiperspirants and Deodorants
(*) Glass Cleaner (non-aerosol)CARB currently estimates that drafts of its proposal will be released in the spring of 2020. More information regarding the potential amendments to the VOC threshold for these categories is available on CARB’s 

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