§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, within EU discussions, the Government have supported a permanent ban on phthalates in specified toys and child care articles. [177230]
§ Mr. SutcliffeThe Government supported the temporary ban (introduced in 1999) on the use of six named phthalates in toys and child use and care articles intended to be mouthed by children under 36 months. However, we continue to believe that the use of phthalates in any such articles for children must be considered on a case-by-case basis. We will give careful consideration to the draft proposal which the Commission intends to circulate in the near future.