CONTINUED VIGILANCE ON TOY SAFETY URGED BY MINISTER FOR LABOUR, TRADE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs today (Monday, 6th July 1998) re-iterated that he "is determined that only safe toys are offered for sale on the domestic market."

Minister Kitt continued: "I am fully aware of the most recent warnings from the EU Commission raising concerns that the level of phthalates in plastic toys may be harmful to small children. These EU findings do raise concerns and are most valuable in heightening, once again, awareness of the potential dangers of phthalate leaching from soft PVC toys."

"I understand that the EU has in the last week issued a Recommendation which sets out limit values for phthalate and invites Member States to verify whether or not these limit values are being respected. The EU Commission urged that where these limit values are exceeded Member States should take appropriate measures, including if necessary withdrawing offending products from the market," the Minister said. Minister Kitt emphasised that he is "fully supportive of this EU-wide initiative."

The European Communities (General Product Safety) Regulations, 1997 make it an offence to place unsafe product onto the market. These Regulations are enforced by the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs. For example, last year, reports were received from Denmark about babies teething rings and pacifiers which contained phthalates and had failed the appropriate tests in Denmark.

The Director of Consumer Affairs has already carried out an investigation in Ireland on foot of these reports and was satisfied that the models which had failed those tests were not available in this country. "I am satisfied that appropriate vigilance is being maintained by the Director of Consumer Affairs in this regard and I have requested him to monitor developments in this area closely," concluded the Minister.