Health Canada says get phthalates out of toys.

by Nick
(Montreal)

Great news in today’s Montreal Gazette.

While most governments fiddle around the edges when it comes to the regulation of BPA and phthalates in plastics, the government of Canada is making a huge step forward with regard to phthalates.

Quoting from the Gazette’s article:

“Conceding a decade-old voluntary ban on hormone-disrupting chemicals in children's toys hasn't worked, Health Canada is expected to announce Friday new regulations requiring toy companies to get phthalates out of soft vinyl toys.

The regulations will prevent the use of six phthalates in bath toys, teethers, rattles and other children's products. The chemical additive is known to cause reproductive harm in children.”

This is great news, because the ban won’t apply only to vinyl toys aimed at children aged three and under, but to all soft vinyl toys. At least, that’s what it sounds like they are planning.

This kind of broad-reaching action is what we need worldwide. Not piecemeal legislation, diluted by exceptions and caveats.

I’ll confirm the details when the announcement is made on Friday.

Read the full article here...