The Korea Times, February 13, 2007

TOXIC CHEMICALS BANNED FROM CHILDREN'S GOODS

[Rachel's introduction: South Korea adopts a precautionary approach to a handfull of hormone-disrupting chemicals.]

By Bae Ji-sook, Staff Reporter bjs@koreatimes.co.kr

Chemicals that can harm children's health will be banned from children's goods, the Ministry of Environment said Tuesday.

The ministry said it would propose a bill to prevent certain chemicals from being used in products for children under 13 years old.

The ban will include phthalate, used in toys and plastic bags; nonylphenols, in cleansers, inks and paints; arsenic pentoxide, in wooden goods; formaldehyde, in leathering, textiles and wallpaper glues; and lead, in children's accessories.

The chemicals are said to be endocrine disrupters or likely to cause other health problems.

"The ministry has set a precautionary principle when it comes to people's health," Bang Jong-shik, a ministry official, said. The United States and the EU have already regulated the usage of most of those chemicals.

If the bill is passed by the National Assembly, manufacturers that violate the law will be sentenced to up to five years in prison or fined up to 50 million won.

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