proposed phthalates regulations 18 pages available in english and french proposed order amending schedule i to the hazardous products act phthalates 2 pages available in english and french proposed amendment to the hazardous products toys regulations 2 pages available in english and french a product composed in whole or in part of soft vinyl containing certain phthalate plasticizers has the potential to cause harmful health effects in young children that suck or chew on the soft vinyl for prolonged periods of time. the voluntary action already taken by domestic industry to remove the two predominantly used phthalates di 2-ethylhexyl phthalate dehp and diisononyl phthalate dinp from soft vinyl teethers pacifiers and other products designed for and intended to be mouthed by young children safeguards only a small portion of soft vinyl childrens products marketed in canada. the vast majority of these products are manufactured offshore where voluntary canadian restrictions are not always applied. the united states and european union recently set legislation restricting the level of six phthalates in soft vinyl childrens toys and child care articles on precautionary grounds either based on adverse reproductive effects in animals dehp dibutyl phthalate dbp and benzyl butyl phthalate bbp or despite the absence of scientific certainty regarding health risks dinp diisodecyl phthalate didp and di-n-octyl phthalate dnop . a restriction under part ii of schedule i to the hazardous products act is the most effective measure for ensuring that soft vinyl childrens toys and child care articles imported sold or advertised in canada do not contain phthalates that are restricted in the united states and european union. to this end it is proposed that the concentration of each of dehp dbp and bbp be restricted to no more than 1 000 mg kg in soft vinyl of all childrens toys and child care articles and the concentration of each of dinp didp and dnop be restricted to no more than 1 000 mg kg in soft vinyl of childrens toys and child care articles where the soft vinyl can in a reasonably foreseeable manner be placed in the mouth of a child under four years of age.