EU Risk Assessment

The European Commission has confirmed that Di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) poses no risk to either human health or the environment from any current use.

The European Commission’s findings (published in the EU Official Journal on April 13 2006) confirm the outcome of a risk assessment involving more than 10 years of extensive scientific evaluation by EU regulators.

Following the recent adoption of EU legislation with the regard to the marketing and use of DINP in toys and childcare articles, the risk assessment conclusions clearly state that there is no need for any further measures to regulate the use of DINP.

In Europe and in some other parts of the world, the use of DINP in toys and childcare items has been restricted as a precautionary measure. In Europe, for example, DINP can no longer be used in toys and childcare items that can be put in the mouth even though the EU scientific risk assessment concluded that its use in toys does not pose a risk to human health or the environment.

The rigorous EU risk assessments, which include a high degree of conservatism and built-in safety factors, have been carried out under the strict supervision of the European Commission and provide a clear scientific evaluation on which to judge whether or not a particular substance can be safely used.

"After such a resounding regulatory approval from the European Union, downstream users can continue to use DINP with the utmost confidence" said Dr David Cadogan, Director of the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI). "In the context of REACH legislation, the conclusions of the risk assessments and the body of research that underpin them will be of great assistance to both producers and users of these substances." 

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