11/07/2018 (Agence Europe) – Enjoying unanimous support from member states meeting within the REACH committee, the European Commission proposed, on Wednesday 11 July, that DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP phthalate content in consumer goods (toys, sports equipment) should be below 0.1% of the weight of the plastic matter of such articles, whether they contain just one phthalate or a combination of phthalates. The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have three months in which to respond to this proposal which, if no objection is raised, will apply 18 months after it takes effect to all products manufactured in and outside the EU. The four phthalates in question are toxic chemical substances used for making plastic flexible and were recognised as endocrine disruptors in February 2017 (see EUROPE 11729). (MB)