In letters sent to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chairman Elliot Kaye on August 1, 2014 the Representatives Henry Waxman, Frank Pallon and Jan Schakowsky (all Democrats) call for fast regulatory action on phthalates. With their letters the representatives reacted to a report from the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel on Phthalates (CHAP), published on July 18, 2014, which recommends the permanent banning of 5 phthalates from toys (previously reported on by the FPF). The recommendation put forward by the CHAP requires regulatory action by the CPSC within 180 days. However, the Waxman, Pallon and Schakowsky consider the findings of the CHAP alarming and call for immediate action to address the potential hazards arising from the use of phthalates in toys. They further urge the FDA to address exposure from food and drugs which, according to the CHAP report, are the most important sources of phthalate exposure.
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Committee on Energy and Commerce (August 1, 2014). “Letter to Commissioner Hamburg.” (pdf)
Committee on Energy and Commerce (August 1, 2014). “Letter to Chairman Kaye.” (pdf)
