One year since the implementation of new toy regulations: The risk of excessive levels of benzene-containing plasticizers cannot be overlooked

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Toys have long played an important role in children’s consumption, serving as essential products that accompany them as they grow. Remote-controlled cars, story-telling dolls, plastic toys, magic puzzles... As Christmas approaches, many parents choose a toy for their children as a holiday gift. A wide variety of toy products bring more joy to children’s childhoods, yet the quality and safety of these toys are of great concern to millions of parents. On January 1, 2016, the mandatory **standard for toy safety**, GB 6675-2014 \"Toy Safety\", issued by the **General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine** and the **Standardization Committee**, was officially put into effect. Compared to the old standards, the new national standards not only refine and modify some of the relevant technical requirements and testing methods but also introduce requirements regarding magnetism, the sound emitted by toys, and restrictions on the use of phthalate-based plasticizers in toys. In particular, the restrictions on these six types of phthalate-based plasticizers are now on par with the current regulations in internationally developed countries such as the European Union and the United States. Now, over a year has passed since the new national standards were implemented. Compared to the safety requirements that are easy to identify and assess regarding aspects such as the sound produced by toys and their magnetic components, the issue of the illegal use of benzene-based plasticizers in toys cannot be taken lightly. Recently, the Light Industry Products Testing Center of Ningbo Inspection and Quarantine Bureau found that 8 out of 12 batches of electric strollers applied for 3C certification contained phthalates in unacceptable levels; the failure rate was 66.6%, with the problematic areas being found in the small decorative plastic stickers. The test results showed that the phthalates in these stickers exceeded the standard limits by more than 80 times, and all of them were DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), which was also above the allowed level. This is the first time that a high proportion of toys have failed to meet the standards regarding phthalates since the new national standards for toys came into effect this year. According to statistics, from January to December 2016, the Ningbo Light Industry Testing Center detected more than 50 batches of toys with excessive levels of phthalates; the number of substandard batches increased by nearly twice compared to the same period last year. Phthalates are common industrial plasticizers; due to their excellent overall properties, which enable them to increase the ductility, flexibility, and strength of polymer materials, they are widely used in the production of plastic products. Those commonly used in children's toys include DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), DBP (butyl phthalate), BBP (butyl benzyl phthalate), DINP (diisononyl phthalate), DIDP (diisooctyl phthalate), DNOP (dioctyl phthalate), and others. Such plasticizers are external plasticizers that generally do not react with polymers; as a result, they can easily migrate out of toys and pose health risks. Furthermore, phthalates are a type of environmental endocrine disruptor with estrogenic properties; long-term exposure can lead to precocious puberty in children, and may even harm their liver and kidneys. Given the hazards of phthalates, some developed countries have successively introduced regulations to strictly control their use in toy production. The Toy Directive issued by the EU in 2005 sets limits on phthalates: the total content of DEHP, DBP, and BBP in the plastic materials of all toys and children’s products must not exceed 0.1% ； The total content of DINP, DIDP, and DNOP in the plastic materials used for toys and children’s products that are put in the mouth must not exceed 0.1%. The United States also passed H.R.4040 in 2008, which introduced stricter limits on phthalates; the law prohibits the sale, manufacture, and import of children’s toys and products for child care that contain more than 0.1% DEHP, DBP, or BBP ； Sales, manufacturing, and import of children’s products and care items that can come into contact with children’s mouths and contain DINP, DIDP, or DNOP at concentrations exceeding 0.1% are also temporarily prohibited. In 2014, the **General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine** and the **Standardization Committee** issued the mandatory **standard for toy safety GB 6675-2014**, which lists six phthalate plasticizers as substances whose use is restricted; this standard came into effect on January 1 of this year. Thus, the limits on phthalate plasticizers in domestic standards for children’s toys have now been officially aligned with those of developed countries. Although **the relevant departments have strengthened supervision and random inspections regarding the quality and safety of children’s toys, the illegal use of phthalates in the domestic children’s toy market remains a problem that cannot be ignored. In particular, as more than a year has passed since the new regulations came into effect, a considerable number of domestic toy manufacturers have yet to take them seriously enough. In addition, some enterprises do not fully understand the standards, and tend to overlook quality issues related to small components. Here, the editor also reminds parents to try to purchase children’s toys from reputable stores, and to check whether the toys have passed the 3C certification, in order to avoid products that lack such certification. To provide customers with a better shopping experience and make transactions more user-friendly and convenient. Our company is now launching Shandong Wantu Mall, with a wealth of amazing discounts ； Welcome to make your purchase. Official store: www.globalonetwo.cn Purchase hotline: 0631-8669765, 8669767, 8669296, 8667759, 8662188