European plasticiser manufacturers are beating the drum against final passage of French legislation that would impose a sweeping ban on phthalates, parabens and alkylphenols, some of which are used in cosmetics, others in plastics. The bill proposed by MP Yvan Lachaud unexpectedly took its first hurdle, the National Assembly, on 3 May despite rejection by the majority party of French president Nicolas Sarkozy. It is not expected to pass the upper house, the Senate, in the same form but the European Council of Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI, Brussels / Belgium; www.ecpi.org) does not want to be unpleasantly surprised again.

ECPI has urged rejection of the legislation, which it says if passed would amount to a “blanket ban on phthalates.” The organisation points out that the use of phthalates has been regulated by the EU’s REACH legislation since 2007. “In trying to replace the existing EU framework relevant to these complex issues, this bill raises more problems than it provides solutions,” ECPI says, adding that it is “scientifically unjustified and unworkable in practice.”

The bill’s passage met with mixed reviews. Hailed by environmentalists, it was criticised by industry groupings, and French health authorities also warned that the pertinent substances could not always be substituted satisfactorily in the short term. In a joint statement, the European plastics manufacturers association PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.org), the French packaging producers association Elipso (Paris; www.elipso.org) and the French plastics converters association Fédération de la Plasturgie (Paris; www.laplasturgie.fr) said the bill was “based on an incorrect interpretation of the precaution principle.” Lachaud (who following the vote was called to a meeting with Sarkozy) apparently has now changed his mind about the scope of the ban. The French MP is said to have told environmental journal “Le Journal de l’Environnement” that, after talks with plastics industry representatives he has concluded that the proposal was too broad and should be limited to parabens – which are used as preservatives in cosmetics. However, this does not mean the legislator has caved in to the plastics industry. He has also proposed extending the ban on bisphenol A (BPA) beyond baby bottles – see Plasteurope.com of 18.05.2010 – to other products.