On 28 August 2013, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published its final report on the re-evaluation of the restrictions on DINP and DIDP in toys and childcare articles which can be placed in the mouth. This re-evaluation of the restrictions on non-classified high phthalates is required by entry 52 of Annex XVII of REACH, which incorporated the original restrictions in Directive 2005/84/EC.
The report concludes that “a risk from mouthing of toys and childcare articles with DINP and DIDP could not be excluded if the existing restrictions on these articles were lifted”. However, based on ECHA’s assessment “no further risks were identified” and hence “no further risk management measures are needed to reduce exposure of children” to these two high phthalates. Taking into account ECHA’s report and the RAC Opinion it can be concluded that DINP and DIDP are safe for use in all current applications.
In this document, ECHA also indicates that “no risk is expected from combined exposure to DINP and DIDP for children exposed via food and the indoor environment”. For adults, the available biomonitoring data confirmed that “exposure from food and the indoor environment are not very significant” and, in the case of dermal exposure, “it is not anticipated to result into a risk”.
The protection of consumer and children’s health is of paramount importance to the plasticiser industry. The European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI) is committed to supporting the REACH process and it has been following the ECHA re-evaluation of DINP and DIDP closely, providing ECHA and RAC with information in order to support an in-depth evaluation.
The report is the result of a 4-year scientific review process including a public consultation and an independent opinion by ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) which brings together experts from all 28 Member States. The report will now be sent to the Commission for its final consideration.
Report: Evaluation of new scientific evidence concerning DINP and DIDP