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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 104Pt. 3Ch. 6Art. 1§ 108680 Household Substance Definitions

§ 108680 Household Substance Definitions

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 108680 Household Substance Definitions

This law defines common terms used in rules about keeping dangerous household items safe, especially from kids. It explains what counts as a risky product and how it should be packaged.

Key Takeaways

  • •Dangerous stuff at home (like cleaner or medicine) must come in child-safe packaging
  • •The package has to be hard for little kids to open but still easy for adults
  • •The law covers things like food, drugs, or fuel if they can hurt someone
  • •Labels and warnings on the package are part of the rules too

Example

You buy a bottle of drain cleaner at the store.

The bottle must be hard for a 4-year-old to open but easy for an adult. If the cap is too easy for a kid to open, the store could be breaking this law.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 108680 Household Substance Definitions

Unless the provisions or the context otherwise requires, these definitions, rules of construction, and general provisions shall govern the construction of this chapter. As used in this chapter: (a) “Department” means the State Department of Health. (b) “Household substance” means any substance that is customarily produced or distributed for sale for consumption or use, or customarily stored by individuals in or about the household and is one of the following: (1) A hazardous substance as that term is defined in Section 108125. (2) A food, drug, or cosmetic, as those terms are defined in Sections 109900, 109925, and 109935, that (A) is toxic, (B) is corrosive, (C) is an irritant, (D) is a strong sensitizer, (E) is flammable or combustible, or (F) generates pressure through decomposition, heat, or other means; if it may cause substantial personal injury or substantial illness during or as a proximate result of any customary or reasonably foreseeable handling or use, including reasonably foreseeable ingestion by children. (3) A substance intended for use as fuel when stored in a portable container and used in the heating, cooking, or refrigeration system of a residential dwelling. (c) “Package” means the immediate container or wrapping in which any household substance is contained for consumption, use, or storage by individuals in or about the household, and, for purposes of household substances, also means any outer container or wrapping used in the retail display of any such substance to consumers. “Package” does not include the following: (1) Any shipping container or wrapping used solely for the transportation of any household substance in bulk or in quantity to manufacturers, packers, or processors, or to wholesale or retail distributors thereof. (2) Any shipping container or outer wrapping used by retailers to ship or deliver any household substance to consumers unless it is the only container or wrapping. (d) “Special packaging” means packaging that is designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for children under five years of age to open or obtain a toxic or harmful amount of the substance contained therein within a reasonable time and not difficult for normal adults to use properly, but does not mean packaging that all such children cannot open or obtain a toxic or harmful amount of within a reasonable time. (e) “Labeling” means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter upon any household substance or its package, or accompanying the substance. (f) “Federal act” means the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 1471 et seq.). (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 130, Sec. 170. Effective January 1, 2008.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

substancetoxichazardoushealthportinjuryfineconstruction

Related Statutes

  • § 108125 Hazardous Substance Definition
  • § 79450 Hazardous Substance Natural Resource Restoration
  • § 108200 Hazardous Substance Labeling Requirements
  • § 11300 Controlled Substance Testing Definitions
  • § 131130 Sale Of Recalled Products

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 108680.
View Official Source