Canada Restricts Six Phthalates in Toys and Child Care Items

Author: Health Canada
Published: 18 Jan 2011 - Updated: 7 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Announcement

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information is a Health Canada announcement from January 2011 detailing federal regulations that restrict six phthalates in toys and child care articles to limit the exposure of infants and children to these chemicals. Phthalates are a family of chemicals used to make vinyl plastic (polyvinyl chloride, or PVC) soft and flexible, and research suggests certain types may cause health effects in young children when soft vinyl products are sucked or chewed. Because it comes directly from the federal department responsible for consumer product safety in Canada, it is a primary source on why the rules were introduced and what they were meant to achieve. It is useful for parents, caregivers, child care providers and importers, and is particularly relevant to families of children with developmental or sensory disabilities, who may mouth toys and other objects well past the toddler years.*

At a Glance

• 1 - The rules apply to products that are imported, sold or advertised in Canada.
• 2 - Industry has voluntarily kept phthalates out of soft vinyl pacifiers, teethers, rattles and baby bottle nipples since 1998.
• 3 - Rick Smith of Environmental Defence Canada said the rules bring Canada in line with measures already taken in the United States and the European Union.
• 4 - Vinyl bibs and bath, squeeze or inflatable toys were named as items children may suck or chew, which is why the voluntary measures were extended into law.

Topic Definition

Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of synthetic chemicals, technically esters of phthalic acid, that are added to plastics as plasticizers - most often to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - to make an otherwise rigid material soft, flexible and durable. They are found in a wide range of everyday products, including soft vinyl toys, flooring, cables, medical tubing and some cosmetics. Because phthalates are not chemically bound to the plastic, they can migrate out over time, particularly when an item is chewed, sucked, heated or worn. Several phthalates, including DEHP, DBP and BBP, have been linked in laboratory studies to reproductive and developmental effects, which is why many countries limit their use in products made for young children.

Overview

Harper Government Takes Action to Reduce Children's Exposure to Phthalates

On January 18, 2011, the Honorable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton, announced new regulations that will restrict the use of six phthalates in toys and child care articles in order to limit exposure to children and infants.

Phthalates are a family of chemicals commonly used to make vinyl plastic, otherwise known as polyvinyl chloride or PVC, soft and flexible. Research suggests that certain phthalates may cause health effects in young children when soft vinyl toys and child care articles are sucked or chewed.

"When the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act comes into force in June - the Act and the phthalate rules took effect in June 2011 and the regulations were reissued in 2016 with the same limits - the Harper Government will begin a new era of consumer product safety for Canadians," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Today, we are again acting to make the toys and products that young Canadians use even safer. New regulations will ensure products that are imported, sold or advertised in Canada do not present a risk of phthalate exposure to children and infants."

Since 1998, phthalates have voluntarily not been used by industry in soft vinyl pacifiers, teethers, rattles, baby bottle nipples and other products intended to be mouthed by children and infants. Given that children may suck or chew items such as vinyl bibs and bath, squeeze or inflatable toys, our Government has introduced these regulations to keep Canadian families safer.

"I applaud the government's actions to limit the presence of this chemical in children's products," said Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada. "Canada's Phthalates Regulations are now aligned with measures taken in the United States and the European Union and will ensure our children receive the same high level of protection."

Over the past year, the Harper Government has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to consumer product safety under its Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan through new regulations on lead, cribs and cradles, and surface coating materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Which six phthalates are restricted in toys and child care articles in Canada?

The six are DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), DBP (dibutyl phthalate), BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate), DINP (diisononyl phthalate), DIDP (diisodecyl phthalate) and DNOP (di-n-octyl phthalate).

What is the legal limit for phthalates in toys sold in Canada?

The vinyl in a toy or child care article must not contain more than 1,000 mg/kg of a restricted phthalate, which is equal to 0.1 percent by weight.

Do the same rules apply to all six phthalates?

No. DEHP, DBP and BBP are limited in the vinyl of all toys and child care articles. DINP, DIDP and DNOP are limited only in vinyl parts that a child under four years of age could reasonably place in the mouth, meaning a part that can be kept in the mouth to be sucked or chewed and has one dimension under 5 cm.

What counts as a toy or a child care article under the Canadian regulations?

A toy is a product intended for use by a child under 14 years of age in learning or play. A child care article is a product intended to help with the relaxation, sleep, hygiene, feeding, sucking or teething of a child under four years of age.

Are the Canadian Phthalates Regulations still in force?

Yes. The original regulations took effect in June 2011 and were replaced in June 2016 by an updated version under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, which keeps the same 1,000 mg/kg limit for the same six phthalates.

How do phthalates get from a toy into a child's body?

Phthalates are not chemically bound to the vinyl they soften, so they can migrate out of the plastic. When a child sucks or chews a soft vinyl item for extended periods, small amounts can pass into saliva and be swallowed.

What health effects have been linked to phthalates?

Laboratory studies have linked certain phthalates, including DEHP, DBP and BBP, to reproductive and developmental effects. The concern for young children comes mainly from prolonged sucking or chewing of soft vinyl products that contain them.

How can parents and caregivers reduce a child's exposure to phthalates?

Buy toys from reputable retailers, follow the age labeling, and be cautious with older or secondhand soft vinyl toys made before the restrictions took effect. Checking the Health Canada recalls and safety alerts database before buying or passing on children's products is also worthwhile.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What began in 1998 as a voluntary step by manufacturers became binding law, and that shift matters more than it might seem - a voluntary pledge does little about cheap imports or products from companies that never signed on. The regulations took effect in June 2011 and were reissued in 2016 with the same ceiling of 1,000 mg/kg, so the protection described here is still on the books. Even so, the rules only cover vinyl in toys and child care articles, and older or secondhand items made before 2011 can still turn up in homes, daycares and therapy settings. For anyone caring for a child who mouths objects, checking the age and material of soft plastic items remains a sensible habit.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Health Canada and published on 18 Jan 2011, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.