WRITTEN QUESTION No. 980/98 by Anna KARAMANOU to the Commission. Protection of children's health from dangerous toys
Date: 1998-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, KARAMANOU
Subjects: approximation of laws, child, consumer protection, dangerous substance, labelling, marketing, product safety, public health, toy industry

11.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 386/67

To apply for these programmes means also that farmers are for a period of 5 years obliged to maintain these trees.
In this period grubbing-up is not allowed.

These provisions were adopted in order to prevent the risks mentioned by the Honourable Members.

(1) OJ L 303, 6.11.1997.
(2) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(98/C 386/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0980/98

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(18 March 1998)

Subject: Protection of children(cid:146)s health from dangerous toys

Research carried out by Greenpeace reveals that a large proportion of the toys designed for young children in the
Union are made of PVC from which toxic phthalic compounds and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, etc) can enter a
child(cid:146)s sensitive bodily system. The long-term effects are accumulative and cause abnormalities, even in the
reproductive system. Concentrations of cadmium 460 times above US limits were detected on the surface of toys
as a result of PVC degradation.

What measures will the Commission take to protect young children(cid:146)s health from hazardous toxic substances in
toys and when will it lay down limits for the heavy metals used in PVC?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 1998)

Detailed limits concerning the maximum daily bioavailability of certain substances, including lead and cadmium,
are laid down in Council Directive 88/378/EEC of 3 May 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member
States concerning the safety of toys (1).

More specifically, these (daily) limits as set out in Annex II, point II.3.2 are 0.6 mg (micrograms) for cadmium and
0.7 mg for lead.

Moreover, toys (cid:145)must in all cases comply with the relevant Community legislation relating to certain categories of
products or to the prohibition, restriction of use or labelling of certain dangerous substances and preparations(cid:146)
(Annex II, point II.3.1. According to the Directive, Member States have to take all steps necessary to ensure that
toys cannot be placed on the market unless they meet the essential requirements set out in Annex II, and to
withdraw from the market, prohibit or restrict the placing on the market of toys that might jeopardize the safety or
health of the consumer or third parties. Member States must inform the Commission immediately when such
measures are taken.

Concerning the phthalic compounds mentioned in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, reference should be made
to the answers already provided by the Commission to questions H-114/97 by Mr Spencer during question time at
Parliament(cid:146)s March 1997 part-session (2), H-423/97 by Mr Pimenta during question time at Parliament(cid:146)s June
1997 part-session (3), written questions 2474/97 and 2475/97 by Mrs Breyer (4) and H-921/97 during question
time at Parliament(cid:146)s December 1997 part-session (5) by Mr Fitzsimons.

Furthermore, the scientific committee on toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment is looking into the issue of
phthalates and the Commission is assessing the first opinion of this committee, with a view to possible short,
medium or long-term action relating to this matter.

(1) OJ L 187, 16.7.1988.
(2) Debates of the Parliament (March 1997).
(3) Debates of the Parliament (June 1997).
(4) OJ C 158, 25.5.1998.
(5) Debates of the Parliament (December 1997).