"Matters of serious public health should be decided by scientists and in labs - not politicians at press conferences. Members of the coalition are genuinely concerned about the need to protect the health of children. But the reasons for adopting AB 1108 are entirely unfounded. AB 1108 would prohibit use of certain ingredients in toys called phthalates. The principal phthalate used in toys, called di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), has been thoroughly studied and found to be safe for use in children's products by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
"A ban on ingredients that have been thoroughly evaluated and found to be safe by government regulators will do nothing to address the recent issues with product safety and toy recalls, and it will not serve to improve the health of children. The practical effect of this ban could even be to increase the risk harming children's health and safety.
"In publishing its findings, the CPSC said, 'If DINP is to be replaced in children's products, whether on a mandatory or voluntary basis, the potential risks of the substitutes must be considered. Weaker or more brittle plastics might break and result in a choking hazard. Other plasticizers might not be as well studied as DINP'.
"If legitimate concerns exist, they should be reviewed by scientists and the state and federal regulatory agencies charged with ensuring public safety. While these entities have many times over found soft vinyl toys to be safe, we would nonetheless support additional review under the Governor's proposed Green Chemistry Initiative. Let the experts do their jobs. Promoting unnecessary fear and misinformation in the media does nothing to protect public health."
Groups opposing AB 1108:
American Electronics Association, California Chamber of Commerce, California Grocers Association, California Manufacturers and Technology Association, California Retailers Association. Chemical Industry Council of California, Grocery Manufacturers/Food Products Association, International Bottled Water Association, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and The Society of the Plastics Industry.
For more information on Phthalates, visit: www.phthalates.org
Source: eMediaWire.com
