March 23, 2000
The Honorable Al Gore Dear Mr. Vice President: During the last few years, the U.S. has had serious debates with our European counterparts over a variety of health-related trade issues. Recent events in Europe, however, have created opportunities for the U.S. and the European Union (EU) to work together in a more productive and cooperative fashion. The interests of all are best served when governments compare their respective evaluations of available data and work together to establish a common understanding of the nature of potential health and safety risks. One such area where I believe cooperation could benefit both the U.S. and our trading partners is in the ongoing dialogue regarding children’s exposure to the class of plastic softeners known as phthalates. Although you directed the U.S. trade offices in 1998 to refrain from any actions that would discourage countries from implementing precautionary measures to restrict the marketing or use of products containing phthalates, the situation in Europe has changed. I believe it is now advisable for appropriate federal agencies to work with their counterparts in Europe to develop an internationally recognized methodology for phthalate migration. This methodology could then be used to develop a standard for acceptable levels, if any, of exposure to these substances. Today, both the U.S. and the EU are conducting studies to measure and assess children’s exposure to phthalates. EU President Romano Prodi recently called for a joint industry/government effort to develop and validate a test to measure the extent to which phthalates end up in children who have contact with certain plastic toys and other products. There should be a role for U.S. scientists and regulators in the EU effort, and I urge the Administration to take advantage of this opportunity. U.S. agencies have already begun work on the health and safety risks associated with phthalates. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) plans to issue a report on methodologies for testing phthalate migration in children this summer in preparation for conducting a new risk assessment on phthalates later this year. It is my understanding that the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have also looked at the health and safety risks associated with phthalates. Clearly, the U.S. and the EU have common interests and concerns regarding any potential health or safety risks associated with exposure to phthalates. It could be helpful, therefore, for these issues to be addressed in a process that allows the U.S., the EU, and others to come to some common understanding about the nature of any risk phthalates present and a recognized means of measuring exposure. The CPSC, the Environmental Protection Agency, and all other relevant federal agencies and trade offices should be enlisted in this effort. For these reasons, I recommend that the Administration take advantage of this opportunity to join the EU in promoting international understanding and awareness of health and safety risks. Only through such cooperative efforts can the international community reach agreement on how best to protect consumers while promoting responsible trade policies. Sincerely, JOHN D. DINGELL
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