The government is taking a more cautious approach with the use of phthalates, used to soften PVC in some applications. Phthalates are suspected of causing hormone disrupting effects in animals, but the Dutch government says it will wait for the results of a study into their effects by the European Commission before deciding what to do. In the meantime, it wants industry to restrict their use and launch its own investigations into effects and alternatives. Dutch PVC producers have stressed that the report has positive aspects too. The government has not called for new measures on environmental impacts of PVC during production or concluded that they contribute significantly to dioxin formation during incineration.
Environmentalists are less happy with the new policy.
Four Dutch groups yesterday accused the government of setting out all the arguments against PVC and then failing to act decisively. They called for a ban on PVC use, saying good alternatives are available for all uses.