PVC industry welcomes alternative to phthalates in toys, medical items

摘要

In comments reflecting the growing pressure on phthalates, the PVC industry has "welcomed" the development by Danish food technology company Danisco of a new plant-based plasticiser as a potential alternative to phthalates in PVC toys and medical devices. The use of phthalates in a growing number of applications is coming under scrutiny because of concern about their potential health effects. A temporary ban on their use in PVC toys and childcare products intended to be sucked or chewed by infants under three years old was agreed in 2000 and has been renewed every three months since. The proposed EU Directive on phthalates, currently awaiting a second reading in the European Parliament, could make the ban permanent (ENDS Report 357, p 50).