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Directive on Phthalate-containing soft PVC toys and childcare articles

"Since 1999 the European Commission has prohibited the use of phthalates in children's toys. This product is especially dangerous in toys placed in the mouth by babies and small children, because the absorption of phthalates may exceed the maximum daily dose and have a long-term impact on health.

Six phthalates are prohibited in this type of toy: di-iso nonyl phthalate (DINP), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP).

In 2005, the ban was made permanent by an EU Directive (2005/84/EC). The Directive broadened the ban to include not only toys but also childcare articles as they can be placed in the mouth by small children. A childcare article is any product intended to facilitate sleep , relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children, or sucking on the part of children.

This decision to prohibit phthalates in the European Union can be seen at: http://ec.europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l32033.htm 

Phthalate Di-isodecyl & Di-isononyl phthalates

Approximation of the relative importance of the consumption of four of the main phthalates in the European Union in the 1990s

Table 2.1 Volumes of DIDP in different articles and their respective lifetimes

Table 3.2 PECs calculated for the various stages of the life cycle of DIDP

Consumer exposure to DIDP and DINP

Internal exposure for adults, children and infants.

Table 1.1 Summary of physico-chemical properties (DIDP)

Table 1.1 Summary of physico-chemical properties (DINP)

Table 2.1 Volumes of DIDP in different articles and their respective lifetimes

Table 2.1 Volumes of DINP in different articles and their respective lifetimes

Table 3.1 Total releases to waste water, surface water and air (DIDP)

Table 3.1 Total releases to waste water, surface water and air (DINP)

Table 3.2 PECs calculated for the various stages of the life cycle of DIDP

Table 3.3 PEC/PEC ratios for agricultural soil (DIDP)

Table 3.4 PEC/PNEC ratios for predators (DIDP)

Table 3.3 PEC/PNEC ratios for agricultural soil (DINP)

Table 3.4 PEC/PNEC ratios for predators (DINP)

Table 4.1 Inhalation occupational exposure (DIDP)

Table 4.1 Inhalation occupational exposure (DINP)

Table 4.2 End products containing DIDP, sources of exposure and categories of consumers exposed

Table 4.3 External and internal exposure for consumers (DIDP)

Table 4.2 End products containing DINP, sources of exposure and categories of consumers exposed

Table 4.3 External and internal exposure for consumers (DINP)

Table 4.4 Internal exposure for adults, children and infants (DIDP)

Table 4.4 Internal exposure for adults, children and infants (DINP)

Some phthalates and their applications

Structure and uses of the three phthalates assessed by the ECB

Table 3.2 PECs calculated for the various stages of the life cycle of DINP

Directive on Phthalate-containing soft PVC toys and childcare articles