Current Press Releases

July 2007

No risk from phthalates in cosmetic products says EU Scientific Committee

An official European Union Scientific Committee has confirmed that people using cosmetics which contain phthalates are not endangering their health

April 2006

EU confirms that the most widely used plasticisers are safe

The EU has today confirmed that two of the most widely-used plasticisers are not classified as hazardous and pose no risks to either human health or the environment from their current use. The publication in the European Union Official Journal of the outcomes of the EU risk assessments for Di-‘isononyl’ phthalate (DINP) and Di-‘isodecyl’ phthalate (DIDP) marks the end of a 10 year process of extensive scientific evaluation by regulators and provides confirmation of safety for users across Europe.

July 2005

EU decision to restrict use of phthalates in toys ignores EU risk assessment An entirely political decision that misuses the precautionary principle

The European plasticiser industry is very disappointed and concerned by today's vote in the European Parliament to ban the use of three phthalate plasticisers in toys and childcare items and to restrict the use of three others. Such stringent measures are unnecessary and ignore scientific risk assessments.

June 2005

Study on neonates provides no new information and rings no alarm bellsStatement by the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI)

A new study published by Environmental Health Perspectives: "Use of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate containing medical products and urinary levels of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in neonatal intensive care unit infants" contains no significant new information and certainly nothing which rings alarm bells. It agrees with earlier studies and states the obvious -- newborns who receive intensive care, perhaps to save their lives, have measured phthalate levels above the average while undergoing these critical medical procedures.

May 2005

US Statistical Assessment Service publishes excellent critique of endocrine studyAlarmist media reporting misinterprets the already doubtful findings

The Statistical Assessment Service (STATS) at George Mason University in the United States has published an excellent critique of the study and the subsequent alarmist publicity which last week claimed to demonstrate for the first time "a highly significant relationship" between human exposure to phthalates and adverse changes in the genitals of baby boys.

July 2004

Suggestions that people are at health risk from wearing flip-flops is nonsenseA statement from the plasticiser industry

There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that adults or children are at any risk from wearing flip-flops. The two phthalate plasticisers most commonly used are DEHP and DINP, both of which have undergone independent scientific risk assessments. Those risk assessments took into consideration phthalate exposure via skin contact and have concluded that there was no risk to human health.

March 2003

Health Effects of DEHP in Rodents Unlikely to be Relevant to Humans Shows New ResearchHigh Doses Show No Testicular Effects in Developing Primates

The safe use of the plasticiser Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been further confirmed by a major new scientific research study which shows that reproductive effects seen in rodents are unlikely to be relevant to humans.


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