Riding a wave of high-tech and an overall statewide surge, California has surpassed France and Brazil to become the world’s sixth largest economy.  To participate in this growing economy is to strategically navigate the complex and cumbersome regulatory system in California; California Proposition 65 (CA Prop 65) is one example of the complex system.  CA Prop 65 “requires the State to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. This list, which must be updated at least once a year, has grown to include approximately 800 chemicals since it was first published in 1987.”  And many of those compounds are in food and beverages; they include certain approved ingredients, as well as well-known and safe food packaging compounds.  Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) an arm of the World Health Organization, continues to evaluate the cancer hazards of various agents found in food, the environment, and industrial settings.  Recently, IARC evaluated red meat and processed meat. California has, consistently, leveraged the IARC rulings to identify compounds to add to their growing list.  So what does CA Prop 65 and IARC have to do with food safety?  What do I need to know about them and my ability to produce and sell a safe product?  Do these institutions impact public perception and food safety?  These are just a sample list of questions slated to be explored during the roundtable discussion on IARC and Prop 65.  The roundtable participants will provide a general overview of the program; provide specific nuances and insights to increase knowledge, as well as provide case study examples and approaches used to successfully navigate the complex system. Participants will, also, discuss their impact on the U.S. regulatory decision making process, as well as public perceptions about food safety.