Top toy producer drops phthalates from teethers as bans build up

Mattel, the world's largest toy producer, is to phase out phthalate softeners from PVC teething toys for children under three. Meanwhile, industry hopes that a Dutch study to assess phthalate migration from toys would show that curbs on the chemicals were unnecessary appear overoptimistic. Sweden and Norway are set to follow Austria and Denmark in restricting phthalates.