The European Union has introduced an emergency ban on certain baby toys made from PVC containing chemicals called phthalates, which are suspected of causing liver and kidney damage and testicular problems.
Eight EU countries have already decided to impose unilateral bans on some phthalates, which are used to soften the PVC, and two more are considering doing so.
The European Commission has also proposed permanent measures to outlaw the use of phthalates in baby care items such as teething rings and to introduce labelling requirements warning parents of the potential danger posed by toys not intended for chewing or sucking.
But as the draft legislation could take up to two years to be approved, the Commission successfully argued for the emergency measures to assure the public that "all babies in the EU are immediately protected against the risks posed by these products," according to a statement.
In opting for legislation, the EU Commission rejected an offer by the toy industries of Europe to stop marketing the targeted products on a voluntary basis since it maintained this would not provide consumers with legal guarantees.
Responding to fears that phthalates could harm babies by leaking out of toys designed to be put in their mouths, the chemical industry is developing tests to measure any leakage to ensure that safe limits are not exceeded.
