Brussels, 24/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the Competitiveness Council managed to reach unanimous agreement without any problem on the permanent ban on the use of various types of phthalates in soft plastic toys for young children (see Europe of 22 September, p.10).
Phthalates are used as plastic softeners but are known to be hazardous for human health. Six of them (banned in the EU since 1999 under a emergency decision, extended in Decision 1999/815/EC) have been subject to a...