Written Answers. - PVC Products.
Bernard Allen
Question:
79
Mr. Allen
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
if the recent EU ban is being enforced on soft or malleable plastic toys for the under three age group which contained specified synthetic chemicals from the phthalates group; if not, the reason in this regard; if her Department has carried out a survey to establish if toys containing these chemicals are still available in retail outlets in view of the fact these chemicals are cancer inducers and have a negative effect on hormone levels; and if she has established that teething rings and soothers do not contain the banned substance.
[4034/00]
On 7 December 1999 the EU Commission adopted a decision banning the placing on the market of child care articles, including teething rings and soothers, and toys intended to be placed in the mouth by children under three and made of soft PVC, containing specified phthalates.
The decision had previously been endorsed by all member states at a meeting on 1 December 1999. At this meeting, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs indicated that the decision would be implemented in Ireland by way of administrative procedures under Article 6 of Council Directive 92/59/EEC of 29 June 1992, on general product safety.
Following notification of the decision, the Director of Consumer Affairs, who has responsibility for enforcing this measure, issued a press release advising the public of the Commission decision and of the director's intention to actively enforce the Commission ban. A copy of the press release was communicated to the main importers and retailers of such products as well as representatives of the pharmaceutical industry.
On 7 December 1999, officials from the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs met a delegation of industry representatives which included importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers. The representatives confirmed that they would comply with the Commission decision and gave assurances of co-operation for a voluntary withdrawal of products "already placed on the market".
On 16 December 1999 the ODCA met with the UK authorities and UK distributors, who supply the bulk of the Irish market, and were given an assurance that they would co-operate fully with the implementation of the Commission decision by not shipping the products affected into Ireland.
The ODCA has also advised the customs authorities of the decision and the need for co-operation in its implementation by monitoring imports of PVC articles which may be imported directly into Ireland from third countries.
Responses received by the ODCA to follow-up letters issued on 27 January 2000 indicate that brands currently on the market comply with the decision and that manufacturers who had used phthalates in the past had already changed formulations in anticipation of such a decision by the Commission.
Inspectors from the ODCA are monitoring the implementation of the decision on an ongoing basis through visits to distributors, wholesalers and retailers. To date no products containing the banned phthalates have been found.
