The US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s revised “About Ophthalmic Requirements for Toys and Childcare Products” will be formally implemented on April 25. This revision focuses on the Federal Act 16 CFR 1307, Plasticizers (Phthalates). (Ester) limits the scope and requirements for modification. After the amendment, plasticizers for mandatory permanent bans in children's toys and childcare products will be increased from the existing 3 to 8 if the plasticizer content in the product exceeds 1000mg/kg , will prohibit the sale in the United States market. This new regulation has a great impact on China's plastic toy export industry.
U.S. Plasticizer Ban Promulgated Related Plastics Affected
National bans
As early as 2005, the European Union promulgated the phthalate ban (2005/84/EC), for the use of children under the age of 3 and can be put into their mouths, the six kinds of ophthalmics in their plastic parts. The content of dicarboxylic acid ester plasticizer should not exceed 0.1%. Warnings are required on the packaging of toys containing soft PVC for children under 3 years of age and can be placed in their mouths. The United States promulgated in 2008. The implementation of the "US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act" stipulates that plasticizers will be limited to use in children's consumer products. Canada, Japan, Brazil, Argentina and other countries have also made provisions for plasticizers in children's products, requiring plasticization. The content of the agent must not exceed 0.1%.
In January 2016, our country enforced the standards for plasticizers for children's toys. Since China is referring to EU standards, the restrictions are mainly six kinds of common plasticizers. In addition, several new plasticizers have been added to the US ban. Agents, domestic standards and the EU have not set restrictions, and the United States' revision of the ban on plasticizers will have a major impact on China's plastic toy export industry.
Restricted export
In recent years, plasticizers have become an important factor restricting the export of plastic toys in China. According to relevant department statistics, in 2017, due to excessive plasticizers, children's toys exported to the European Union were notified 166 times, only in 2018. In the quarter, China’s related products were notified by the EU up to 77 times.
It is understood that because children's products and toys require the use of soft plastics, plasticizers have excellent effects on the softening of plastics, and plasticizers with phthalates as the main components have low cost, so plasticizers are relatively cheap. Due to the wide range of plasticizers among plastics, their detection requirements are high, their cost is high, and their self-inspection ability is not strong. During the injection molding process, once the plasticizer content is too high, the product If it fails, the company will suffer losses.
how to respond
Countries have formulated and enforced the ban on plasticizers. Enterprises in the plastics industry should attach great importance. First, relevant companies should attach great importance to the laws and regulations promulgated by various countries, interpret them in detail, and incorporate technical barriers into corporate quality management and control systems to increase their risk prevention. Capacity. Secondly, improve the testing standards for export products of enterprises, and ensure that export products meet the relevant standards and legal regulations for export destinations. Then, related companies should establish a sound raw material management system and strengthen the production chain with safety and environmental protection as the starting point. Process technology management, from the source of production to prevent risks, improve the quality and safety level. At the same time companies should also actively look for alternatives to plasticizers, through the combination of 'production, research, and research' as soon as possible to find plasticizers in line with technical regulations.
Conclusion
For enterprises exporting plastic products in China, they should pay close attention to the relevant standards of exporting countries, increase inspections of plasticizers for export products, and avoid losses caused by returns and damages due to excessive plasticizer content. Relevant companies should also pay attention to the cost of production to actively respond to the adjustment of foreign technical regulations, and grasp the initiative in increasingly strict international markets.