Source：HC Plastic Website

After five years’ hard work, the first international toy standard ISO8124-6 – the particular phthalate plasticizer in toys and children’s products, led and developed by China was formally released to the world by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which was headquartered in Geneva. The project was organized by China Toys Standardization Technical Committee, and convened by Huang Lina, the deputy director from technology center of Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

Known as plastifier, plasticizer is a chemical which can soften plastic. It is widely used in toys, food packaging materials, cleaning agents, lubricants, personal care products and other products. In all kinds of plasticizers, phthalate plasticizer is the most widely used for its best performance and most inexpensive price. However, some categories of the phthalate plasticizers has gradually proven to be a type of estrogen, which may affect human development.

Before ISO8124-6 was released, many countries had gradually restricted to use phthalate plasticizers, but the international standard of plasticizer is vacant. In early 2009, China Toy Standardization Technical Committee formally submitted a Chinese proposal to develop ISO plasticizer standard to the International Committee for Toy Standardization (ISO / TC181). In November of that year, the New York ISO / TC181 annual meeting adopted the Chinese proposal and specified China to lead and develop the toy standard.

According to the statistics of China’s Ministry of Commerce, there were nearly 6000 Chinese toy manufacturers above designated scale in 2013, the total toy exports reached $12.38 billion, with year-on-year growth of more than 8%. China is the world’s largest toy producer and exporter, approximately 70% of toys from all over the world are manufactured in China.