AFTER A 24 HOUR OCCUPATION OF EXXON'S PLANT, GREENPEACE CALLS ON EU TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AGAINST SOFT PVC TOYS

1 July 1998

Amsterdam -- After a 24 hour occupation of Exxon Chemical Holland BV (1) in Rotterdam, Greenpeace has left the site of the action, 2 hours before a European Commission decision on how to restrict the sale of soft PVC toys is expected in Brussels.

The international environmental group had started its protest on Tuesday morning, when it stopped the loading and distribution of the hazardous chemicals phthalates, used to manufacture soft PVC toys (2). Despite orders by the Dutch Minister of Health and other European governments that infants should be protected from the dangers associated with these chemicals in soft PVC toys, Exxon has continued to sell them.

Greenpeace has called on Exxon to stop producing hazardous chemicals for hazardous PVC products, but the chemical multinational has refused to comply with Greenpeace's demands. Exxon announced today that they will wait for the results of the series of tests that Exxon itself is conducting together with the Dutch government to assess the hazards to children. Exxon is not only actively participating in the set up of the test, it even tailor-made the samples for the study in which human volunteers will suck on soft PVC toys so their saliva can be analyzed for phthalates

"The chemical industry has put cards on table: their profits come first, even if this means putting at risk our children's health" said Axel Singhofen of Greenpeace. "Everything is in the hands of the European Commission now: it must act swiftly and take legal measures to recall all soft PVC baby toys and prohibit their marketing in the future".

After Greenpeace presentation in Rotterdam Court this morning, Exxon decided to withdraw its original demand of a 1 million NFL a day injunction against the environmental organisation.

Memos between the US government representatives in Europe and Washington D.C. published by Greenpeace a few weeks ago reveal close cooperation with the Exxon Corporation, in an attempt to thwart European-wide restrictions on soft PVC toys proposed by EU Commissioner Emma Bonino, after the Spanish government asked for a EU action in March.

"PVC toys are the first test case for the newly restructured European Commission to show effective consumers' protection since the BSC crisis ", added Singhofen. "We hope that the Commission proves that it takes consumers' protection seriously and that it will withdraw immediately soft PVC toys from the market".

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Axel Singhofen, Greenpeace International, t. +32 2 280 19 87 (Brussels)
- Eco Matser, Greenpeace Netherlands, mobile +31 6 534 78 693 (Amsterdam)
- Luisa Colasimone, Greenpeace Communications, mobile +31 6 53 66 29 70 (Amsterdam)

(1) The Dutch branch of the chemical multinational is, with a production of 300,000 tonnes a year, the world biggest producer of hazardous chemicals added to PVC to make it soft. These softeners, called phthalates, have been linked to health effects in laboratory animals, ranging from liver and kidney damage to reproductive abnormalities. These chemicals can leach from the toys when children suck, chew or bite on them.

(2) A video from the action in Rotterdam has been given to EU Commissioners Bonino and Bjerregaard today in Brussels.