Industry responds to Commission recommendation on soft PVC toys: common test method needed

Join Press Release of: Toy Industries of Europe, European Council of Plasticizers and Intermediates and the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers
July 1, 1998

The European toy, plasticiser and PVC industries have welcomed a European Commission decision to adopt a Recommendation that Member States should work towards developing a standardised test method in order to measure phthalate migration from soft PVC toys.

For several months the European Commission had been considering various proposals for a possible restriction on the use of phthalate plasticisers following unfounded concerns that if toys and childcare items are sucked for long periods of time they might pose a health risk to young children. However, such proposals have now been dropped and the Recommendation, which applies to soft PVC toys and childcare items intended to be put into the mouth by children under three years old, confirms that phthalate plasticisers can be safely used within specified migration limits.

"We welcome the fact the Commission has decided against proposals for restrictions based on the absence of a proven risk to health," said Maurits Bruggink, Secretary General of Toys Industries Europe. "The Commission has taken on board the opinion of the EU Scientific Committee (CSTEE) which clearly states that phthalates can be used safely in the production of soft PVC toys and childcare items. However, the key to successful implementation will be the use of a common test method to measure phthalate migration."

The Commission Recommendation makes reference to the importance of a test method that is currently being developed by a Dutch consensus Group and will be available in less than two months.

"In recent months a lot of unfounded and grossly misleading information has been published resulting in understandable public concern, " said Mr Bruggink.

"There is absolutely no scientific evidence to suggest that phthalates can harm young children. In the longer term we agree that harmonised standards need to be introduced in Europe, not least in order to restore public confidence in products which have been used safely - and without a single known case of a child’s health having been damaged by them - for more than 40 years," he said.

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