Is PVC Used in Toys?

Child safety is a priority for all involved. PVC toys are considered safe because they are hygienic, durable, unbreakable and easy to clean.

PVC toys have been used safely for decades and in many cases are considered much safer than the products they replace. 40% of toys sold in Australia are made from PVC. However, relatively little toy manufacturing takes place in Australia as most toys are imported.

In order to make PVC flexible (for example, for use in soft toys), plasticisers need to be added. A number of different products are used as plasticisers, including the classes of chemicals known as phthalates (or phthalates), citrates and adipates.

The addition of phthalates in toys sold in Australia is regulated by Australian Standards AS 8124 (Toy Standard) and AS2070 (Plastic Materials for Food Contact). Toy safety falls under the jurisdiction of federal and state departments that deal with matters of public health and safety.

The use of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) as a plasticiser has been effectively banned in toys and childcare articles sold on the Australian market. Australian regulator the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) recommended a ban on any such products containing more than 1% DEHP by weight after completing a risk assessment in 2010. As DEHP is not expected to be found in toys on the Australian market, the ban was primarily a precautionary measure and covers toys, childcare articles with the potential for significant oral contact, and infant feeding utensils and cutlery containing more than 1% DEHP.

NICNAS has also conducted risk assessments on eight other common phthalates used in Australia, with a particular focus on sensitive end uses – toys, childcare articles and cosmetics. Its 2012 assessment of the high molecular weight phthalate DINP found that “the current risk assessment does not indicate a health effect from exposure of children to DINP in toys and childcare articles, even under the highest (reasonably worst case) exposure scenario considered.”

“Based on the findings of this assessment, no recommendation is required to the public health risk management authorities regarding the use of DINP in toys and childcare articles,” NICNAS concluded. Currently, there are no restrictions on the use of DINP in products in Australia.

The Scientific Assessment Panel also looked at cumulative exposure of children to DINP and another phthalate and found no significant cause for concern.