Phthalates Ban in Toys Won't Stop Sales

November 2008

Even though a law that is supposed to ban phthalates will take effect February 10, stores may continue selling products made with the hormone-like chemicals. This is because legal counsel at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said that the phthalate ban doesn't necessarily apply to toys made before February 10.

In August, Congress passed a bill that essentially bans phthalates in products for children under 12. The CPSC said that retailers and manufacturers can still sell off their existing inventory of dolls, sippy cups, and other merchandise that may contain the dangerous chemicals, however. Furthermore, neither stores nor manufacturers are required to label which products meet the new standards and which do not.

Some people who are in support of the ban say that the CPSC is undermining the purpose of the legislation, which is to protect children's health. A small number of human studies, and a large number of animal studies, suggest that phthalates interrupt the normal functioning of the hormone system. Chemical makers argue that the evidence is not conclusive and that phthalates are safe.