Vinyl Toys - Politics Triumph over Science in Europe, says Industry

WASHINGTON, Nov 10/PRNewswire/ -- American Chemistry Council Phthalate Esters Panel issued the following:

The Phthalate Esters Panel (Panel) is dismayed and disappointed that the European Commission has approved a short-term emergency ban on phthalates in children's toys based on political pressure and certain allegations from Greenpeace and other activist organizations. The Commission's failure to base its judgments on the weight of scientific evidence jeopardizes the consumer protection process.

The Panel strongly believes, based on extensive scientific research, that phthalates pose no hazard to children when they are used properly in soft vinyl toys. Moreover, the Panel is not alone in its belief -- several independent reviews, including reviews by preeminent scientists and government agencies, support this view. The reviews include the following:

In 1998, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) conducted a comprehensive evaluation of potential exposure to diisononyl phthalate (DINP), the principal phthalate used in children's products. In its report, the CPSC stated, "The data show that none of the daily intake estimates exceed the . . . acceptable daily intake (ADI)."1 CPSC also stated, "Generally, the amount ingested does not even come close to a harmful level."2
A 1998 Dutch Consensus Group evaluation found that exposures to DINP from toys would be below a conservatively derived ADI - in most cases, well below. The report stated the possibility of a child's exposure exceeding the ADI is "so rare that the statistical likelihood cannot be estimated on the basis of the current data."3
In June 1999, a blue-ribbon panel of independent scientists chaired by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop concluded in a written report that the phthalate ester used in toys is safe for that use.4

This inappropriate action follows an equally flawed decision in France to ban phthalates in children's toys. That action has been legally challenged by the French Association of Organic Chemical Industry, the French Association of Plastics Producers and several companies based upon a "clear abuse of discretion from the French authorities."

The Panel recognizes that allegations from Greenpeace and other activist organizations, which have regrettably received widespread media coverage, may have unduly frightened parents of young children. The statements by the U.S. CPSC, the Dutch Consensus Group, and the Blue-Ribbon Panel of Experts chaired by Dr. Koop should put their minds at ease.

Since its inception 25 years ago, the Panel and its members have sponsored health and safety research for phthalate esters including research and testing on issues related to children's health protection. The Panel is committed to working cooperatively with agencies responsible for children's health, so that phthalate esters may continue to be used safely in toys and other vinyl products.

For more information on this subject, call Marian Stanley, Phthalate Esters Panel manager, at 703-741-5623, or visit our website at www.phthalates.org.

CPSC (1998). The Risk of Chronic Toxicity Associated with Exposure to Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP) in Children's Products, Executive Summary.
CPSC, CPSC Releases Study on Phthalates in Teethers, Rattles and Other Children's Products, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Press Release # 99-031 (Dec. 2, 1998).
RIVM (Rijksinstituut voor Volsgezondheid en Milieu), Phthalate Release from Soft PVC Baby Toys: Report from the Dutch Consensus Group, RIVM report 613320 002, W.H. Konemann, ed. (September 1998).
American Council on Science and Health (1999). A Blue Ribbon Panel Report: A Scientific Evaluation of Health Effects of Two Plasticizers Used in Medical Devices and Toys. Dr. C. Everett Koop, Chairman.

Politics Triumph Over Science in Europe, says Industry