The European plasticiser industry has expressed concern over a recent EU decision to ban the use of three phthalate plasticisers in children's toys.

The EU competitiveness council unanimously decided that three phthalates - di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP); di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP); and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP) - should not be used in children's toys and accessories at concentrations greater than 0.1 per cent. Three more - diisononyl phthalate (DINP); diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP); and dioctyl phthalate (DNOP) - should join the ban where they are included in products used by children under three years of age or liable to end up in children's mouths.

Members of the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI) say the decision, which now goes to the European Parliament for a second reading, has 'serious legal implications' and 'throws into doubt the whole of the EU risk assessment process'. Only one of the phthalates, DINP, is generally used in toys and US investigations have confirmed there is 'no demonstrated health risk from the use of this plasticiser in toys,' they add.

ECPI director David Cadogan said: 'In terms of overall plasticiser use, toys represent a very small proportion, but the decision is nevertheless very concerning because it will inevitably force toy manufacturers to use alternatives about which far less is known.'

Environmental group Friends of the Earth claims industry delayed the ruling by arguing over 'acceptable levels' of phthalates that can be ingested by children. ECPI disagrees, saying discussions with member states accompanied the course of the risk assessment to ensure all scientific data were included.

A spokesman for the European chemical industry council, Cefic, said it was concerned that risk assessment was ignored by politicians and legislators. 'Ignoring and misusing the precautionary principle had far-reaching consequences for the entire chemical industry,' he said.

Fiona Salvage