Regulation of phthalates in toys
Regulation of phthalates in toys - Vinyl Council Australia
| Despite international safety assessments, bans on the use of DINP and other phthalates in toys have occurred in Europe and the US: |
| Under a new US law to come into effect in early 2009, three types of phthalates have been permanently banned in children's toys and child care items, while three others, including DINP, have been temporarily banned pending further study. This further study will look more closely at the potential health effects of both phthalates and alternatives in products primarily intended for children 12 and under. During 2005, the European Commission permanently banned the use of six phthalates in toys for young children. This is despite the risk assessment conducted by the Commission as part of its review of phthalates that found the phthalate plasticiser most commonly used in toys - DINP - safe for such use. |
| There has been no new evidence of adverse health effects for children from soft PVC toys. There is no evidence that any child has been harmed through the use of phthalate plasticisers in toys. The inclusion of phthalates in toys sold in Australia is regulated through the Australian Standards AS 8124 (the Toy Standard) and AS2070 (Plastic Materials for food contact use). The safety of toys falls under the jurisdiction of Federal and State departments which deal with matters of public health and safety. |
| Australian phthalates review |
| Australia's National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) has been conducting risk assessments for 9 common phthalates used in Australia, including DINP, with a specific focus on sensitive end uses - toys, childcare articles and cosmetics. The purpose of the assessments is to determine any risks to adults and children from phthalates in consumer applications with the potential for repeated or prolonged exposure. Because of the potential for mouthing of objects, the assessment of toys include those that can be placed into the mouths of infants (up to 3 years of age). In 2008 NICNAS published the Phthalates Hazard Compendium summarising the current data on phthalates research. It was due to release the risk assessments in 2009. In the interest of the wellbeing of children, the use of any alternative plasticiser or material must be subject to the same scrutiny as phthalates. Toymakers, regulators and consumers need assurances that the alternative materials are at least as safe as PVC. |
| In January 2010 a proposed ban on products that contain more than 1% of the chemical diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was announced by the Australian Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs (ACCC), the Hon. Craig Emerson. Largely precautionary, the ban relates to toys, childcare articles where significant mouth contact may occur and vessels and eating utensils for feeding infants containing more than one per cent DEHP. The ACCC has since received a response from the Minister, Craig Emerson, advising that he has declared certain products containing more than 1% w/w of the chemical Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) to be unsafe, and instituted a temporary ban for a period of 18 months, effective 2 March 2010. |
| For more information please visit: |
| ACCC |
| NICNAS |
