Press Note: Health groups call on the European Parliament to protect children’s health from harmful chemicals in toys

Tomorrow, MEPs will vote on the revision of the Toy Safety legislation. Health groups are calling on MEPs to ensure children’s health is protected. They should guarantee the highest level of protection by supporting the improvements introduced by the ENVI Committee, and by fast-tracking the restriction of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and bisphenols in toys. 

PFAS have a myriad of health effects and as they do not break down easily, they can accumulate in children’s bodies. The adoption of more protective EU rules on toy safety is an opportunity to speed up the ban of these harmful chemicals in toys, without waiting for the long process of the broader EU PFAS restriction for the other numerous uses of the chemicals, which will take years.

Bisphenols, such as BPA, have been linked with developmental and health problems in children. Bisphenols are endocrine disruptors and can cause early puberty, obesity, infertility, neurodevelopmental effects, increased risk for cancer and lower birth weight.

Sandra Jen, Programme Lead for Health and Chemicals at HEAL states: “Protecting children’s health against harmful chemicals requires the highest level of ambition possible in this vote. MEPs must ensure to fully apply the precautionary principle and to prioritise children’s health over continuous use of harmful chemicals.”

MEPs should ensure the proposed revision results in a ban of PFAS and bisphenols in toys as quickly as possible and broaden the scope to include other harmful chemicals, such as those that are persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic and mobile.