European Commission recently notified WTO a draft to amend Appendix C of Annex II under 2009/48/EC Safety of Toys (Notification No. : G/TBT/N/EU/133), in which regulative requirements are formulated to flam retardants TCEP, TCPP and TDCP in toys in light of the latest scientific evidence to protect children’s health. TCEP is a phosphate ester used as a flame-retardant plasticizer in polymers and is widely used in building industry, furniture and textile industry. But it is carcinogenic and toxic for reproduction, and can easily migrate into children’s body though sucking and chewing, which may result in toxicity in the kidney, liver and brain, and may cause cancer.
As TCEP's halogenated substitutes, TCPP and TDCP are taken into consideration to be limited in the draft for having similar physical-chemical properties, toxic kinetics and mutagenic profiles with TCEP.
The limits will be effective in 18 months after the date of its publication on the official Journal.
Table1. Limits of TCEP, TCPP and TDCP
Substance | CAS No. | Limit Value(content limit, mg/kg) |
TCEP | 115-96-8 | 5 |
TCPP | 13674-84-5 | 5 |
TDCP | 13674-87-8 | 5 |