Intertek Provides Effective Solutions to Comply with California's Proposition
65 Law

Support for recent surge in Proposition 65 litigations leading to record settlements in 2009

OTTAWA, May 21 /CNW Telbec/ - Intertek (www.intertek.com), the leading provider of quality and safety services to a wide range of industries, offers customers effective California Proposition 65 compliance solutions to avoid the rapidly increasing business risk of health and environmental legislation enforcement.

The Office of the Attorney General for the State of California recently published the Annual Summaries of Private Settlements reports for California Proposition 65. In 2009, there were no less than 321 actionable events (no less than a 62% increase over the previous year). These results increase the settlement total over the past 9 years to 1,948 settlements. This data summarizes all settlements of California Proposition 65 cases brought by private and public parties and are based on reports submitted to the California Attorney General. Settlements typically include terms that benefit the public including product reformulation, emission reduction, or warnings.

Proposition 65 is a California law that has been in effect since 1986 to promote clean drinking water and keep toxic substances that cause cancer and birth defects out of consumer products. Proposition 65 regulates substances listed by California as causing cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Proposition 65 has been the reason for the addition of notices of specific contents to consumer product labels.

Intertek offers effective services to support company compliance with California Proposition 65. Intertek has extensive experience in Proposition 65 services for consumer products, like toys, food, electronics, textiles, furniture, general household products, and medical products. Services range from product and toxicological safety assessment and consulting, to comprehensive testing.

"Companies selling, manufacturing, or trading consumer products are very concerned about chemical consumer safety and legislative enforcement. In addition, California's Proposition 65 has seen a significant increase in legal cases brought by private and public parties," states Dr. Ruud Overbeek, Vice President of Intertek's Health and Environment. "Intertek helps customers efficiently meet obligations while mitigating risks."

Intertek will present on key Proposition 65 issues during a free 1 hour webinar on June 16, 2010 at 2:00 pm EDT. To register, please visit: http://www.intertek.com/events/2010/prop65-update-webinar/

About Intertek Health & Environmental Services (www.intertek.com/green)

Intertek Health & Environmental Services offers the complete solution for global, regional, or local compliance, providing sound traceability systems and strict enforcement of due diligence policies. Intertek does more than simply help our clients comply, we give them the competitive advantage they desire. Our Services offer comprehensive solutions for RoHS, Restricted Substances, CPSIA, REACH, California Proposition 65, Carbon Management, and Greenhouse Gas reduction, including on-call consulting, testing and analysis, legal representation, certification, and corporate education appropriate for all types and levels of business. Intertek Health & Environmental Services is a leader in global environmental compliance, consulting, technology services and product stewardship.

About Intertek (www.intertek.com)

Intertek is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 25,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.

For further information, visit www.intertek.com

For further information: Joel Pekay, Global Marketing and Business Development Director, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected], [email protected], www.intertek.com/prop65