Toy exports must prevent excessive plasticizers

Recently, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) issued "Safety Part 6 Toys and Some Phthalates in Children's Products" (ISO 8124-6:2014) for plastics, textiles and coated parts in toys and children's products. Phthalate content in the test. The new ISO standard will bring new challenges to toy and children's products export companies.

Plastic limit order extends to emerging markets

It is understood that phthalates are the generic name of esters formed from phthalic acid and are often used as plastic plasticizers and are widely found in plastic products such as toys and children's products. Due to its potential hazards, the substance is highly concerned by the markets of developed countries such as Europe, the United States and Japan. The US Consumer Protection Commission's Chronic Hazard Advisory Group (CHAP) conducted a four-year study and released a hazard analysis report for the substance and its substitutes in July this year. Given its harm to the child's reproductive system and endocrine system, it is recommended that further supervision be strengthened.

At present, only a few countries such as Europe, USA and Japan have established monitoring systems for phthalates in toys and children's products. The issuance of this international standard provides important technical references for the establishment of relevant monitoring systems in some emerging market countries, and will accelerate the development of The international trend of phthalic acid limits.

According to industry insiders, “the detection of phthalate esters has become a must-test item for China’s toy exports to developed countries in Europe, America, Japan and other countries in recent years, and phthalate exceeds the standard in recent years. The main reason for reporting the recall.”

Toy export costs will increase

It is understood that plasticizers are mainly used in toys, baby bibs, children's raincoats and other products, the role is to increase the softness of plastic, "in the past two years, most toy companies have reduced the use of plasticizers in toys, For example, the material used in toy packaging will be changed from PVC to PET. PVC plasticizers will be used in production, but PET is a soft plastic and does not require plasticizers.” Xu Changsheng, General Manager of Quanzhou Jinxin Toys, told reporters .

However, Xu Changsheng stated that the cost of PET will be about 20% higher than that of PVC. For some companies that use plastic as their main material, the impact will be relatively large. Most toy companies only use plastic in certain areas, or When used on packaging, the impact on the total cost will not be too great. It is estimated that the increase in total cost will be 1% to 2%.

In this regard, relevant persons in Quanzhou inspection and quarantine department reminded children's products export enterprises to strengthen the source control of raw materials, implement the inspection of key raw and auxiliary materials, ensure the quality and safety of products from the source, and second, improve the quality of children's products. As early as possible, all standards should be aligned with developed countries. Through the use of substitutes or product upgrades, the use of phthalates in production should be avoided; besides, the last detection before shipment should be emphasized to minimize export risks. .