German BUND Checks On Toys And Other Children'S Articles For Testing Bad Substances.

German environment and Conservation Association (abbreviation)

Recently, consumer goods purchased by children in the country are usually sampled and tested to test whether these products contain plasticizers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other harmful substances.

In this operation, BUND found that 8 of the 9 items tested were unqualified.

BUND is the German branch of the friends of the earth. It claims to be a non-profit making, non partisan and non religious federal grassroots non-governmental organization with about 500 thousand members and supporters.

BUND focuses on natural conservation and environmental protection.

In response to future ecological challenges, BUND is working with partners in the friends of the earth to voice at the national and international levels.

From November 2014 to March 2015, BUND purchased 9 children's products, made of plastic, fabric or leather from 9 different well-known manufacturers.

It is noteworthy that the Council claims that most of these products are manufactured in mainland China and India.

Prices range from 9.95 euros to 29.95 euros, from German retailers, sporting goods stores and online stores.

The focus of the BUND study is plasticizers, which are classified as harmful to reproductive organs and suspected to have adverse effects on hormones, o-phthalate two.

The adverse effect of hormones is that chemicals interfere with the natural hormone system, which may lead to serious consequences such as precocity or obesity.

It will further test whether these toys and children's products contain other harmful substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and carcinogenic formaldehyde or toluene, which are believed to be harmful to the nervous system.

The test found that there was only one item.

Formaldehyde free, and the level of o-benzoic acid two and polycyclic aromatic compounds is also within the allowable limit.

BUND found that the remaining 8 children's products contain chemicals harmful to health.

The most shocking finding of this study is that BUND measured a variety of o-phthalic acid two plasticizers in a child diving breathing tube suit, especially two (2- ethylhexyl) ester of ortho phenyl two carboxylic acid (DEHP), which contained 45000 mg per kg.

DEHP is the most commonly used ortho benzene two formate as a plasticizer. It is also one of the first 6 compounds that EU has phased out under its REACH chemical system.

Toys can only contain 1 grams of DEHP per kilogram. However, the diving breathing tube and goggles do not apply to this limit.

Most of the statutory requirements for toys and other children's products are formulated at the EU level.

Directive No. 2009/48/EC on toy safety stipulates the safety requirements for toys to be put into the European market, whether they are manufactured in the EU or imported into the European Union.

According to the directive, toys include all products made for children under 14 years of age.

In addition to the toy safety directive, children's products are regulated by the REACH regulations.

The toy safety directive stipulates that toys and the chemicals they contain shall be used in a predetermined or predictable way and take into account the behavior of children. They shall not jeopardize the safety or health of users or third parties.

BUND believes that this is only a theoretical principle, because toys used by children over the age of 3 can tolerate up to 1000 mg (0.1%) of harmful chemicals per kilogram.

The Committee believes that this restriction is too loose.

BUND points out that, even more importantly, toy safety directives do not take into account substances that affect hormones and substances that are harmful to the environment.

BUND indicated that the research results showed that there was a gap between legislation and Member States' supervision, which made it difficult for parents to know the harmful substances contained in children's products on the market.

The Council said parents themselves should take the initiative because legislators and manufacturers are too loose on harmful substances.

To protect children, BUND suggests that parents ask manufacturers whether they contain highly concerned chemicals.

According to REACH regulations, the company shall provide information within 45 days after the customer first requests.

BUND further advises parents to avoid

Products containing PVC, because these products often contain harmful plasticizers.

BUND said that parents should sniff products, because products with strong odor often volatilize gaseous chemicals, which may be harmful to children.