Commission extends ban on phthalates in toys 

The decision marks the 12th time the ban has been extended since its codification under Commission Decision 1999/815/EC. According to the Commission, the extension of the ban is necessary to guarantee a high-level protection of children.

Phthalates (pronounced THAL-aytes) are chemical compounds used as "plasticizers", i.e., they make plastics flexible without sacrificing strength or durability. They are used primarily in PVC products.

The ban on phthalates covers chewable toys and child-care articles made of soft PVC for children aged 3 or under. Phthalates are suspected of being endocrine disrupters. They allegedly interfere with the normal endocrine functions or mock the human hormones; as a result, they affect the metabolism of the human body.

The validity of the Commission Decision is set at three months and may be extended as has been the case for the 12th time now. Meanwhile, research continues into the health risks associated with phthalates.