Toy Manufacturer's PVC Ratings; Latest Government Actions

January 21 1999. EU Commissioner Emma Bonino said in an interview on BBC Radio 4 (You and Yours) that that she will be reconsidering a proposal for an emergency ban on a limited number of soft PVC toys, such as those designed to go in the mouth, and that she had written to all the commissioners on the issue. This follows the letter from US Vice President Al Gore, which removes the concerns about trade barriers and will make it more likely to be agreed by Commissioners.

February 1 1999. The EU Industry Commission proposes a permanent restriction on soft PVC toys, covering toys and childcare articles INTENDED to be put into the mouth by under three's, specifying an unlimited ban on the use of DEHP, but setting a migration limit for the most commonly used phthalate DINP. The majority of EU Member States at the meeting (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Greece) made it clear that they want a ban on the use of ALL phthalates in certain soft PVC toys and childcare articles and would not accept a migration-based approach.

February 1999. The Finnish Trade and Industry Minister notified the European Commission of a ban on six phthalates in concentrations above 0,05% in toys and childcare articles intended for oral use for children under three. The scope of the proposed ban in limited (only six phthalates, only for toys intended for oral use) compared to a 1984 ban on all phthalates in teethers, which was dropped when Finland joined the EU.

March 9 1999. The Italian Minister of Industry announced a ban on PVC Toys containing phthalates. The ban will take effect three months from now in order to give the EU Commission time to raise objections.

March 16 1999. All 20 EU Commissioners step down in a scandal about internal corruption. The proposal for an emergency ban is dropped as it is a controversial decision that would have to be taken by vote.

April 1 1999. The Danish ban is finalised.

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May 4 1999. The European Parliament agrees a resolution on consumer policy which requests a ban of soft PVC toys for children under three containing phthalates, joining 9 EU countries which are either working on national bans and/or support EU wide bans.

July 1 1999. Norway's ban takes effect.

July 7 1999. The French Ministry of Economics, Finances and Industry suspended the production, import, export and the marketing of soft PVC toys intended to be put into the mouth by children under three, in particular teething rings, rattles and dummies, for one year as of today. The ban covers toys containing DINP, DIDP, DEHP, DBP, DNOP, BBP. Toys on the market have to be withdrawn and the costs of this have to be borne by those who put them on the market.

July 1999. Germany proposes a law, banning the use of phthalates in any toy designed to be used by a child under 36 months. It has been submitted to the EU and is now subject to a three-month standstill period while any objections from other member states are considered. A Health Ministry spokesperson said officials had not been swayed by recent British and Dutch studies validating test methods for establishing "safe limits" for the migration of phthalates from plastic items into saliva.

August 1 1999. Sweden's ban takes effect.

September 1999. The Greek ban on sales of soft PVC toys becomes effective.

September 2-3 1999 - Before a hearing of the Environment Committee of the European Parliament, the new EU Commissioner of Consumer Protection and Health, David Byrne made the following statement on PVC toys: " This is a very important question and I am very pleased that you ask it. I am convinced that phthalates pose serious risks in certain toys. I will work for an amendment of the general product safety directive. I had detailed discussions with the directorate general and noted the concern that there has been no better success so far. 8 Member States have taken action so far, which shows that there is strong evidence about the dangers. The issue has been dealt with at high level before and I am determined to have a second bite at the cherry."

September 7 1999. A deposition was made to the French courts by the French chemical industries association (UIC) in a bid to overturn the Governments ban on soft PVC childcare items on the grounds that no evidence of adverse health effects had been found in humans.

September 30 1999. The European Scientific Committee (CSTEE) published two opinions which stated that the two leaching tests developed in the Netherlands and in the UK are not suitable for regulatory purposes due to their poor reproducibility, and that the setting up of an ISO ring test would be a "waste of resources" . Secondly, the CSTEE concluded that the use of the phthalate substitutes that were examined (citrates and adipates) cannot be supported. learned. The committee's findings re-open the possibility that the Commission may now propose an EU-wide ban on phthalates in PVC toys designed to be sucked or chewed by babies. The European Commission also said that EU governments may continue to ban toys containing phthalates as there is still no conclusive evidence it is unsafe for children.

10 November 1999 - The European Commission agreed on a proposal for both an emergency and a permanent ban of soft PVC teething toys for children under three years old. Both ban proposals would only cover the toys intended to be put into the mouth. All toys that are not meant for teething but are likely to end up in a child's mouth would merely be labelled 'to be kept out of mouth', a measure which could take 3-4 years to take effect. In addition, no immediate market withdrawal of the banned toys is foreseen in the EU Commission proposal. The EU Commission will also ask the Scientific Committee of Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment whether the ban should cover all toys for children under three

Tolico *****                                 has a PVC avoidance policy and does not
Denmark                                         sell PVC toys for children under 3, no PVC
                                            packaging

Riko ****                                         policy to minimize PVC; products
                                            (Richard Kohnstam Ltd) are aimed at older children
                                            UK

Young Epoch Co. Ltd **** PVC will be eliminated by 2000 for products
Japan designed for children under 3

Brio *** does not produce teethers or rattles from PVC
Sweden but continues to use it for a few other products

Mattel (Fisher-Price, Tyco, Arco) *** announced plans to eliminate phthalates in
USA toys intended for the mouth, eliminated
all PVC packaging in Scandanavia in 1999

Disney ** agreed to eliminate phthalates in teethers and
USA rattles in early 1999