Substance group
What counts as Phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and…?
2 markets define Phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP, and they don't all agree. Read each definition below. You tell us if your product contains it; we never guess from its name.
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Group
Definitions
“Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) CAS No.: 117-81-7 EC No.: 204-211-0 Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) CAS No.: 84-74-2 EC No.: 201-557-4 Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) CAS No.: 85-68-7 EC No.: 201-622-7 Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) CAS No.: 84-69-5 EC No.: 201-553-2”
“52. The following phthalates (or other CAS- and EC numbers covering the substance): (a) Di-‘isononyl’ phthalate (DINP)”
- Definition
- Phthalates in column 1 of entry 51: DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP
- Listed members
- Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), Diisobutyl phthalate
- Source
“Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) CAS No.: 117-81-7 EC No.: 204-211-0 Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) CAS No.: 84-74-2 EC No.: 201-557-4 Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) CAS No.: 85-68-7 EC No.: 201-622-7 Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) CAS No.: 84-69-5 EC No.: 201-553-2”
Entry 51 · fetched 2026-10-08ECHA / European Commission: Entry 51(opens in a new tab)
- Definition
- Phthalates in entry 52: DINP, DIDP and DNOP (and other CAS and EC numbers covering the substance)
- Listed members
- Di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), Di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), Di-n-octyl phthalate
- Source
“52. The following phthalates (or other CAS- and EC numbers covering the substance): (a) Di-‘isononyl’ phthalate (DINP)”
Entry 52 · fetched 2026-10-08ECHA / European Commission: Entry 52(opens in a new tab)
Rules
Rules that use these definitions
3 rules.
Limit 0.1 % (content basis)
individually or in any combination, % by weight of the plasticised material in the article
Exemptions (2)
Food contact materials within Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 or (EU) No 10/2011.
“materials and articles intended to come into contact with food within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 or Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011”
Articles placed on the market before 7 July 2020.
“(d) articles placed on the market before 7 July 2020;”
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 22 Jun 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02006R1907-20260622 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Not a food-contact product
Depends on: whether the product touches food
In force since 8 Jul 2020
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 8 Jul 2020
Entry 51 para 3: shall not be placed on the market after 7 July 2020, so the first covered date is 2020-07-08. Food-contact materials are outside para 3 (para 4(f)); the exemption is applied to products that are not for food contact. Toys and childcare articles (paras 1-2) are outside para 3 (para 4(j)); children's tableware is food contact and is covered by the childcare rule.
“Shall not be placed on the market after 7 July 2020 in articles, individually or in any combination of the phthalates listed in column 1 of this entry, in a concentration equal to or greater than 0,1 % by weight of the plasticised material in the article.”
Limit 0.1 % (content basis)
individually or in any combination of the phthalates in column 1 (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP), % by weight of the plasticised material, in toys and childcare articles (childcare article = product intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children or sucking on the part of children)
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 22 Jun 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02006R1907-20260622 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Children's product
Depends on: whether it is a children's product
In force since 8 Jul 2020
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 8 Jul 2020
Paragraphs 1-2 apply to toys and childcare articles; the para 4(f) food-contact exemption applies only to para 3. The original application date (Directive 2005/84/EC) is not in the published text; 2020-07-08 is the day after the 7 July 2020 date the text gives for DIBP in para 2.
“Shall not be used as substances or in mixtures, individually or in any combination of the phthalates listed in column 1 of this entry”
Limit 0.1 % (content basis)
greater than 0,1 % by weight of the plasticised material in toys and childcare articles which can be placed in the mouth by children
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 22 Jun 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02006R1907-20260622 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Children's product
Depends on: whether it is a children's product
In force since 1 Jun 2009
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 1 Jun 2009
Annex XVII applies from 1 June 2009 (Art. 141(4)); the entry text gives no later application date.
“Shall not be used as substances or in mixtures, in concentrations greater than 0,1 % by weight of the plasticised material, in toys and childcare articles which can be placed in the mouth by children.”
- LimitEUPhthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP as defined in European Union
Limit 0.1 % (content basis)
individually or in any combination, % by weight of the plasticised material in the article
Exemptions (2)
Food contact materials within Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 or (EU) No 10/2011.
“materials and articles intended to come into contact with food within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 or Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011”
Entry 51 para 4(f) (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-08ECHA / European Commission: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XVII(opens in a new tab) Articles placed on the market before 7 July 2020.
“(d) articles placed on the market before 7 July 2020;”
Entry 51 para 4(d) · fetched 2026-10-08ECHA / European Commission: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XVII(opens in a new tab) Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 22 Jun 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02006R1907-20260622 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Applies when
- Not a food-contact product
Depends on: whether the product touches food
- Effective
In force since 8 Jul 2020
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 8 Jul 2020
Entry 51 para 3: shall not be placed on the market after 7 July 2020, so the first covered date is 2020-07-08. Food-contact materials are outside para 3 (para 4(f)); the exemption is applied to products that are not for food contact. Toys and childcare articles (paras 1-2) are outside para 3 (para 4(j)); children's tableware is food contact and is covered by the childcare rule.
- Source
“Shall not be placed on the market after 7 July 2020 in articles, individually or in any combination of the phthalates listed in column 1 of this entry, in a concentration equal to or greater than 0,1 % by weight of the plasticised material in the article.”
Annex XVII entry 51 para 3 · fetched 2026-10-08ECHA / European Commission: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XVII(opens in a new tab)
- LimitEUPhthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP as defined in European Union
Limit 0.1 % (content basis)
individually or in any combination of the phthalates in column 1 (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP), % by weight of the plasticised material, in toys and childcare articles (childcare article = product intended to facilitate sleep, relaxation, hygiene, the feeding of children or sucking on the part of children)
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 22 Jun 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02006R1907-20260622 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Applies when
- Children's product
Depends on: whether it is a children's product
- Effective
In force since 8 Jul 2020
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 8 Jul 2020
Paragraphs 1-2 apply to toys and childcare articles; the para 4(f) food-contact exemption applies only to para 3. The original application date (Directive 2005/84/EC) is not in the published text; 2020-07-08 is the day after the 7 July 2020 date the text gives for DIBP in para 2.
- Source
“Shall not be used as substances or in mixtures, individually or in any combination of the phthalates listed in column 1 of this entry”
Annex XVII entry 51 paras 1-2 (excerpt) · fetched 2026-10-08ECHA / European Commission: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XVII(opens in a new tab)
- LimitEUPhthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP as defined in European Union
Limit 0.1 % (content basis)
greater than 0,1 % by weight of the plasticised material in toys and childcare articles which can be placed in the mouth by children
Consolidated text (not the authentic legal edition), current to 22 Jun 2026. EUR-Lex consolidated text: a documentation tool without legal effect; the acts published in the Official Journal are authentic. Consolidated version CELEX 02006R1907-20260622 from the Publications Office, the latest when read.
- Applies when
- Children's product
Depends on: whether it is a children's product
- Effective
In force since 1 Jun 2009
Applies to products placed on the market on or after 1 Jun 2009
Annex XVII applies from 1 June 2009 (Art. 141(4)); the entry text gives no later application date.
- Source
“Shall not be used as substances or in mixtures, in concentrations greater than 0,1 % by weight of the plasticised material, in toys and childcare articles which can be placed in the mouth by children.”
Annex XVII entry 52 paras 1-2 · fetched 2026-10-08ECHA / European Commission: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XVII(opens in a new tab)
See also
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