April and July 1997 - The Danish government reported on high levels of plasticiser escaping from teething rings, within the framework of the EU rapid information system and in accordance with the Directive on General Product Safety (Article 8, 92/59/EEC).
September 1997 - Greenpeace releases a report on the analysis of 63 soft PVC toys from around the world; the findings show that they contain up to 40% by weight of hazardous phthalate softeners.
October 22, 1997 - The European Commissions Committee for Product Safety Emergencies meets to discuss the issue for the first time.
October 28, 1997 - Austrian Minister for Consumer Affairs, Barbara Prammer, issued a press release stating that PVC-free toys are desirable. She will be working to amend Austrian regulations on toys and initiate Europe-wide restrictions on PVC in toys. She also called on the industry to avoid producing PVC toys and replace them with existing alternatives.
November 17, 1997 - The European Commission gives a mandate to the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment to look at the impact on children's health by soft PVC toys.
November 27, 1997 - Svend Auken, Danish Minister for the Environment and Energy asked the Danish EPA to work out a proposal for a ban on phthalate-containing toys for small children. He also asked the EU to ban hazardous substances in toys.
February 9, 1998 - The Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxity and the Environment formulates its position that soft PVC toys for infants release unacceptable quantities of hazardous substances. Doses of three phthalates (DINP, DEHP and DNOP) from soft PVC toys would exceed the margin of safety
March 10, 1998 - The Spanish government writes to the European Commission Environment to demand that efforts be undertaken to urgently adopt a Community measure regarding the danger presented by the migration of phthalates from soft toys and other childrens articles.
April 24, 1998 - The EU Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment adopted their final report and concluded that PVC teething rings leach up to ten times the acceptable level of the phthalates DINP and DEHP.
May 20, 1998 - EU Commissioners agree that regulatory action is needed to address the problems of phthalates in soft PVC toys in light of the evidence presented by an EU scientific committee last month. While there was consensus in the college of Commissioners for the need of a directive in its own right to address the problem of phthalates in the long run, agreement on emergency measures is pending a special proposal to be made by Consumer Protection Commissioner Emma Bonino.
June 10, 1998 - Emma Bonino proposes an emergency ban on soft PVC teethers and imitation fruits containing the two phthalates DINP and DEHP to a meeting of the Commissioners. She fails to get the support of Commissioners by one vote, and is asked to return with a further proposal based on further scientific advice.
June 15/16, 1998 - The Scientific Committee issues another opinion following some further questions from the Commission for Consumer Protection, which confirms their previous assessment, subject to the results of the Dutch study on a standardised and validated test, due in the autumn.
July 1, 1998 - Commissioner Bonino puts a recommendation to Commissioners to invite EU Member States to take measures on soft PVC toys intended to be put into the mouth, while Community legislation for permanent protection is under way. The proposal for emergency action is dropped.