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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 621/2

30 April 2003

Dear Sirs,

 

Commercial Information Circular No. 125/2003

Japan : Prohibition of the Use of Phthalates

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan has revised its Food Sanitation Law to prohibit the use of phthalates in certain toys, food containers and packages. The new regulations will take effect from 1 August 2003.

DETAILS

  1. The objective of the new regulations is to protect public health. Details are as follows:

<Toys for young children>

  1. Any synthetic resin toys (such as pacifiers) which come into direct contact with the mouth of infants and young children may not be made of polyvinyl chloride including di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) or diisononyl phthalate (DINP).
     

  2. Any other synthetic resin toys for infants and young children may not be made of polyvinyl chloride including di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP).

<Food containers and packages>

Any apparatus, container or package apparatus that may come into direct contact with fats/oils or oily foods may not be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) including di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP).

According to MHLW, the scope of "infants and young children" targeted by the new regulations in general includes children under age of six.

ENQUIRIES

  1. Should you have any enquiries, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5672.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

(Miss Jojo CHAN)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry



Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.