Serious about Safety

At Milestone Decal Art, we want our customers to feel safe and informed.  We want to empower you to make appropriate decisions about your work.  If you are making products intended for food use or you intend on selling your products in California you will need to be informed about FDA and California Prop 65 safety laws.

FUMES DURING THE FIRING PROCESS

The covercoat on the decals is made of organic materials that will burn off during the firing process between 400F and 800F and should be vented to the outside. The fume might be noxious and we strongly recommend using the combination of a Orton VentMaster (inside the kiln type ventilation) combined with a hood ventilation above the kiln to insure that all fumes are safely vented to the outside. 

lead free Ceramic decals and food safety

All of our open stock silkscreen ceramic decals and glass decals are printed using lead and cadmium free colors.  However decorating your pieces using lead free ceramic decals does not ensure that your glaze, glass or kiln doesn't harbor heavy metals. 

Some of our open stock digital decals and custom digital decals are printed using colors containing trace amounts of lead.  We have had products using these colors tested by an independent laboratory and those products were found to meet FDA standards.  However, this does not mean that your product will meet FDA standards or Proposition 65 safety standards.   To ensure that your product meets FDA and/ or Prop 65 standards we recommend having your product tested by a reputable lab such as Bureau Veritas.  

lead free ceramic and glass products

To ensure that your ceramics and glassware are lead free and cadmium free, is it absolutely necessary to apply lead/ cadmium free decals on lead/ cadmium free glazes and glasses.  Lead free ceramics and glass pieces should not be fired together with those containing lead as the resulting emissions could release heavy metals.  Lead free colors could then become contaminated with lead. 

Because there are various points in the production process where heavy metals can be introduced, it is necessary that the end user tests their product according to the relevant standard procedures for all products manufactured under his/her technical production conditions.  If you intend on selling your products in California, you will need to be aware of safety regulations outlined in Proposition 65. 

What is Proposition 65 (AKA Prop 65)?

The California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, referred to as Proposition 65, requires that consumers be warned about products that may contain one of over 850 listed substances.  Among these substances are lead and cadmium.   If you test your product and it is found to exceed Prop 65 limits, Califorina law requires warnings be provided to inform consumers of the potential exposure to the toxic chemicals.  Proposition 65 does not ban any product from being sold, it just requires a warning to the consumer. 

Educate yourself

The information we provide here is only intended to be used as advice and is not legally binding.  We want you to be informed to make proper choices, but we are not liable for any damages caused by unsafe products.