Fact-sheet: Phthalates in toys and childcare articles

Phthalates are used as plasticisers, primarily in PVC, and can also be used in paint and adhesives. 

Danish ban – toys and childcare articles for children aged 0-3 years

Denmark has national rules regarding the use of phthalates in toys and childcare articles for children aged 0-3 years. In Denmark, there is a ban on the import, sale and use of phthalates in toys and childcare articles for children aged 0-3 years if the products contain more than 0.05 per cent by weight of phthalates.

Toys are defined as any product or article that is clearly designed or intended for play purposes for children aged 0-3 years, whilst childcare articles are defined as any product or article that is intended to be or would normally be expected to be placed in the mouths of children aged 0-3 years. The restriction applies to products such as dolls, rattles and other toys for children under 3 years and nursing pillows, baby carriers, dummies, bathing equipment and jewellery.

The ban on all phthalates in toys and childcare articles for children aged 0-3 years is a Danish ban and does not apply generally within the EU. Enterprises must therefore exercise particular caution when importing these products from other EU countries.

EU prohibition – toys and childcare articles for children aged 0-14 years

There are also restrictions that apply throughout the EU. It is prohibited within the EU to manufacture, import or sell toys and childcare articles for children aged 0-14 years:

• if the products contain the phthalates DEHP (Bis(2-ethylhexyl)ftalat), DBP (Dibuthylftalat), BBP (Butylbenzylftalat) and DIBP (Diisobutylftalat).
• if products which could be placed in the mouth contain the phthalates DINP (Diisononylftalat), DIDP (Diisodecylftalat) and DNOP (di-n-octylftalat).

It is generally assumed that a product or part thereof could be placed in the mouth if one dimension is less than 5 cm.

The products must not contain 0.1 weight percent or more of the above phthalates individually or in any combination of these

The rules also apply to old and used toys, which may not be sold after the cut-off date if they do not comply with the rules.

Phthalates may impair fertility

The restrictions have been introduced in order to protect our health, as animal tests have shown that some phthalates can impair fertility. Other phthalates are suspected of having endocrine-disrupting effects.

The restrictions have been introduced in order to limit the contact of young children in particular with toys and childcare articles for young children containing phthalates. This is because the phthalates are not bound to the plastic and are therefore released from the toy over time as they are used by the children. Phthalates can also be released into the air and dust in the indoor climate.

Manufacturers, importers and dealers are responsible

Anyone who manufactures, imports or sells toys and childcare articles is responsible for ensuring compliance with the regulations. Enterprises must ensure that their products do not contain unlawful phthalates.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency's Chemicals Inspection Service carries out inspection to ensure compliance with the regulations and ensures that unlawful circumstances are legitimised. This may mean that the product must be withdrawn from the Danish market or that the product must be made lawful in some other way. Contraventions of the regulations may in addition be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to two years.