Amsterdam / Rome, 23 December 1997

The Italian Minister of Public Health, Rosi Bindi, agreed to ask Italian toy manufacturers this week to use alternatives to PVC in the design and manufacture of toys. The Minister will also consider legal measures to address the presence of softeners in PVC toys.

The Italian decision follows legal action taken by Solvay and the European Vinyls Corporation (EVC) against Greenpeace in Italy for USD 27 million in damages. In an attempt to prevent further protesting against PVC in general and toys in particular, these two multinational chemical companies have accused Greenpeace of slander, organizing a boycott and causing them economic damage.

Greenpeace has been protesting internationally against the sale of soft PVC toys because of harmful additives within the vinyl plastic. In several countries, retailers have responded to government calls and already removed soft PVC toys from the shelves.

"With only a few days left before Christmas in many parts of the world, commitments to eliminate soft PVC toys for small children are flourishing," said Lisa Finaldi of Greenpeace International. "Many children are playing safe this holiday season".

"However, the international toy industry - Mattel, Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Disney and Toys R Us - still isn't budging," Finaldi added. "Shame on them for putting year end profits ahead of children's health."

Last week, the Austrian Minister of Consumer Affairs, Barbara Prammer, issued a draft regulation to ban the sale of certain plastic toys containing plasticizers which are likely to be sucked or chewed by children under three.

Austria joins Denmark's Minister for the Environment and Energy, Svend Auken, in introducing national legislation to ban soft PVC toys for children under three containing phthalates. Both countries will also work for a EU-wide regulation on PVC toys. Voluntary measures are also in place in the Netherlands, Belgium, Philippines and Germany.

This year, Greenpeace commissioned two studies on PVC toys. The first, released in September, found that soft PVC toys for small children such as teethers and bath toys, contain up to 40% by weight of the softening chemicals called phthalates. Independent laboratory tests conducted on animals show that phthalates are toxic, with health effects ranging from liver and kidney damage to reproductive abnormalities.

In December, a second investigation was released in Germany. It found that excessive levels of phthalates leached out of half of the PVC toys for children under three tested. The softeners contained in PVC are not totally bound to the plastic. When children suck, rub, lick or chew and put pressure on soft PVC toys with their mouths and hands, these hazardous chemicals can leach out.

For information: