GP Complains to EU Commission Against Spanish Min of Health

["greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

Greenpeace complains to the European Commission against the
Spanish Ministry of Health

The Ministry doesn't want to publish the list of PVC toys
retired from the market

January 19, 1998 -- Greenpeace has presented a legal Complaint
in front of the European Commission against the Spanish Ministry
of Heath, for hiding the results of the analysis of PVC toys and
the list of toys retired from the market. According to
Greenpeace, this attitude violates the Directive 90/313 of free
access of environmental information.

During december the Instituto Nacional de Consumo (National
Consumption Institute), dependant of the Ministry of Health,
analyzed PVC toys in order to investigate the migration of
phtalates. The analysis were made after Greenpeace campaign
against these toys.

Afterwards, some media reported that seven toys had been retired
from the market, which confirms Greenpeace denounces. But the
National health Institute denied to Greenpeace the list of toys
retired.

"Citizens have the right to know what is going on with PVC toys.
Hiding the data of the analysis shows how much the Government is
protecting the industry interests, against the health of
consumers" said Pablo Mascarenas, Greenpeace toxic campaigner.

ENDS

Greenpeace on the Internet at http://www.greenpeace.org