In an article published on August 31, 2017, regulatory news provider Chemical Watch reported that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has decided to exempt seven types of plastic from the requirement to be tested for phthalates when used for children’s products. The exemption will take effect on September 29, 2017, Chemical Watch informed, and applies to the following plastics: 1) polypropylene (PP), 2) polyethylene (PE), 3) high impact polystyrene (HIPS), 4) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), 5) crystal and general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS, or GPS), 6) medium-impact polystyrene (MIPS), and 7) super-high-impact polystyrene (SHIPS). According to the CPSC, the phthalates prohibited in children’s products are unlikely to occur in these materials above the allowable limit of 0.1%. In October 2017, the CPSC may ban five further phthalates for use in children’s products (FPF reported).

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Chemical Watch (August 31, 2017). “U.S. CPSC exempts seven plastics from phthalates testing.

Keller and Heckman LLP (September 7, 2017). “CPSC acts on phthalates.

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