Europe formalises ban on chemical in toys

The European Parliament today endorsed a ban on a potentially hazardous chemical used to soften plastics used in children’s toys and other childcare products, formalising a measure that could have wide implications for toymakers.

The new law bans six types of phthalates, a family of chemicals generally used to make vinyl plastics more flexible. The ban affects a broad range of products made within the 25-member European Union and imported from other countries, including China.