The City and County of San Francisco adopted the Healthy Products, Healthy Children Ordinance in June 2006, banning the sale, manufacture, and distribution of children’s products containing the six particularly noxious phthalates. The state passed a similar ban later that same year, and in July 2008, the US Congress approved a nationwide ban on phthalates in children’s products.

Phthalates are chemicals that are used to make polyvinyl chloride plastic soft and flexible, and they had been used commonly in such products as rubber duckies, teething rings, and bath toys. However, excessive exposure to phthalates can lead to premature birth and reproductive harm (sperm damage and reduced testosterone).

All retailers in San Francisco selling products that can be placed in a child’s mouth must adhere to the Federal phthalate ban; San Francisco, in efforts to promote enforcement of the Federal law and help local retailers and parents choose safe products, has been testing toys for phthalate content. The City has partnered with the California Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC) to test various toys and products and enforce a phthalate limit of 0.1% in these items.