EU asks states to examine possible risks of chemicals found in PVC plastic toys

The European Commission has asked member-states to begin examining the risks associated with chemicals found in plastic toys and teething rings used by infants.

States should begin measuring the transfer of these chemicals leached by saliva and "act if necessary", according to a Commission statement issued yesterday.

However, the Commission's approach has been strongly condemned by the Green MEP, Ms Nuala Ahern, who claimed it "has just copped out".

Ms Ahern called on the Government to operate the "precautionary principle" and ban the use of the chemicals, phthalates, in children's toys and child-care articles. "There is an absolute case for banning these toys for children," she said. Phthalates are chemical additives widely used to enhance the softness and elasticity of PVC plastics. Some studies have linked phthalate exposure to cancers and also to disruption of sex hormones in test animals.

Studies in Denmark and Spain have shown that saliva could leach the chemicals out of toys. These two countries had made submissions to the Commission for "a rapid Community solution" to the issue and had withdrawn certain products containing phthalates from their markets, according to the Commission.

Phtalates are not in use in plastic manufacture here, according to the director of the Irish Plastics Industries Association, Mr Reg McCabe, although products containing them might be. The Minister of State for Commerce, Science and Technology, Mr Noel Treacy, has said that if the Commission restricts the sale of these toys the Director of Consumer Affairs will act.

The Commission decision falls short of a ban, however, and asks states only to monitor phthalate use.

It is not always apparent which toys might contain phthalates, although they are used only with PVC-based items. These can usually be identified if stamped with the figure "3" in a triangular recycling symbol.