Harper Government Takes Action to Reduce Children's Exposure to Phthalates

News Release
2011-07
January 18, 2011
For immediate release

Fact Sheet: Phthalates Regulations

OTTAWA - Today, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton, announced new regulations that will restrict the use of six phthalates in toys and child care articles in order to limit exposure to children and infants.

Phthalates are a family of chemicals commonly used to make vinyl plastic, otherwise known as polyvinyl chloride or PVC, soft and flexible. Research suggests that certain phthalates may cause health effects in young children when soft vinyl toys and child care articles are sucked or chewed.

"When the Consumer Product Safety Act comes into force in June, the Harper Government will begin a new era of consumer product safety for Canadians," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Today, we are again acting to make the toys and products that young Canadians use even safer. New regulations will ensure products that are imported, sold or advertised in Canada do not present a risk of phthalate exposure to children and infants."

Since 1998, phthalates have voluntarily not been used by industry in soft vinyl pacifiers, teethers, rattles, baby bottle nipples and other products intended to be mouthed by children and infants. Given that children may suck or chew items such as vinyl bibs and bath, squeeze or inflatable toys, our Government has introduced these regulations to keep Canadian families safer.

"I applaud the government's actions to limit the presence of this chemical in children's products," said Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada. "Canada's Phthalates Regulations are now aligned with measures taken in the United States and the European Union and will ensure our children receive the same high level of protection."

Over the past year, the Harper Government has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to consumer product safety under its Food and Consumer Safety Action through new regulations on lead, cribs and cradles, and surface coating materials.

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, announces in Ottawa, Tuesday, January 18, 2011, new regulations that will restrict the use of six phthalates in toys and child care articles in order to limit exposure to children and infants. Shown with the minister is Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton.

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