California signs bill to ban phthalates in toys

15 October 2007 03:36  [Source: ICIS news]

SAN FRANCISCO (ICIS news)--California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed on Sunday a bill to curb the use of phthalates in certain children’s products despite opposition from the chemical industry.

"While I believe the circumstances related to phthalates warrant taking action now, I do not believe that addressing this type of concern in the legislature on a chemical-by-chemical, product-by-product basis is the best or most effective way to make chemical policy in California, he wrote in his signing statement.

"I strongly believe there needs to be a systematic way to address these types of concerns where California’s scientists can work together with experts from throughout the world to evaluate the health effects of chemicals, assess the risks they pose, and ensure that the safety of possible alternatives receives the same consideration."

The bill would prohibit the manufacture, processing and distribution of certain toys and child care articles containing phthalate concentrations exceeding 0.1% after 2008.

It would also require manufacturers to use the least toxic phthalate replacements and it would bar manufacturers from replacing phthalates with certain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive problems.

Industry sources have declined to say how the restrictions will affect chemical manufacturers.

Marian Stanley, managing director of the Phthalate Esters Panel of the American Chemistry Council, told ICIS news early last week that the bill’s implementation could increase danger to children because the phthalates might be replaced with unknown materials.

She said the council does not publicly weigh specific economic effects of this type of legislation because "either it’s too broad as to be meaningless or it tips the hand of manufacturers to their competitors".

By: Richard Knee
+1 713 525 2653

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