GREENPEACE SANTAS DELIVER HAZARDOUS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS TO COMMISSIONER BONINO

8 December 1998

Brussels - Greenpeace urged Consumer Health Commissioner Emma Bonino today to speed up the process for an emergency ban on soft PVC toys in time for the Christmas season. Greenpeace Santas delivered sacks of soft PVC toys from various European countries to Bonino urging her to, ‘Save Our Bambinos!’ “Our gift represents the thousands of hazardous PVC toys that will make their way into children’s’ mouths this Christmas, unless Emma Bonino ensures that they are taken off the shelves immediately by introducing an emergency ban at the next Commissioners’ meeting on the 16th December,” said Madeleine Cobbing of Greenpeace. “The European Commission has protected its own officials’ children for 11 months but has still failed to protect babies and children across the European Union.”

The European Commission removed all soft PVC teething toys from its childcare facilities in February this year. The Greenpeace call for an emergency ban follows an EU Scientific Committee opinion last week, which reconfirmed that the levels of softeners leaching from soft PVC toys (the phthalates DIN and DEEP) give reason for concern as they exceed safety limits. These softeners, that can make up between 10 to 40 percent of the final product weight in soft PVC toys, have been linked to liver and kidney damage. Earlier this year, the US Department of Commerce lobbied intensively to prevent a proposal for a European wide emergency ban on some soft PVC toys. Last week, however, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommended that manufacturers and retailers remove soft PVC teethers and rattles from the market, following similar action by the Canadian Health Authorities. In Europe, Austria, Denmark and Sweden have already taken national measures to ban the use phthalates in soft PVC toys. Some manufacturers, such as Lego, already avoid PVC. Recently, the infant toy manufacturer Chicco has phased out all its soft PVC products for under three year olds. Other toy manufacturers, including Mattel, have announced limited action to phase out phthalates from soft PVC teething toys at the beginning of next year. However, most voluntary actions have proved to be ineffective. Toys R Us announced a world-wide withdrawal of ‘direct to mouth’ toys containing phthalates, to be completed by 18 November, yet teething toys are still being sold by Toys R Us in the UK and Spain. Also, despite the fact that the Dutch Government recommended voluntary action by retailers and manufacturers last year, soft PVC toys are still available in the country.

“The evidence that a ban on soft PVC toys is needed has never been more compelling; even the USA has recognised the problem,” added Cobbing, “But calls for voluntary action have already failed - an EU-wide emergency ban is the only enforceable way to protect children in Europe from the hazards of soft PVC toys.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Madeleine Cobbing, Greenpeace International, mobile ++32.75.286 544
- Axel Singhofen, Greenpeace EU advisor, ++32.2.433 003, & ++32.2.280 1987
- Mika Railo, Greenpeace International Press Desk, ++31-20-5249 548
- Visit the Greenpeace International ‘Play Safe’-site: www.greenpeace.org/pvctoys