On November 24, 2014 a group of 55 human health and environment public interest organizations led by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) addressed the Vice President of the European Commission (EC) for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen, in a critical letter. The letter urges the EC to reject applications for authorization of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP, CAS 117-81-7) in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic items under the European chemical regulation REACH. Further, they published a position paper detailing their reasons for opposing the authorization of the phthalate. The authors argue that DEHP is a substance of very high concern (SVHC), highly toxic and exhibits endocrine disrupting properties. DEHP is widely used leading to ongoing exposure despite the fact that safer alternatives are generally available. They stress that by granting authorization for the continued use of DEHP in PVC products, the EC will fail to uphold the main goal of REACH, which is the protection of health and environment. Under Commission Regulation (EU) 10/2011 DEHP has already been authorized for the use in plastic food contact materials (FCMs) as a plasticizer and technical support agent with a specific migration limit of 1.5 mg/kg food.
Read more
EEB (November 24, 2014). “Letter to European Commission on DEHP in PVC plastic.”
EEB (November 24, 2014). “CSOs position paper on DEHP in PVC plastic.”
