Bill seeks proper labeling of PVC products

MANILA, Philippines - Wary of its possible harmful effects, a lawmaker filed a bill requiring the proper labeling of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, especially those found in hospitals. House Bill 4968 filed by Caloocan Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon echoes the warning from Health Care Without Harm, an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems. "A known human carcinogen, dioxin, can be formed during the manufacture of PVC, and during the incineration or burning of PVC products. Moreover, di-ethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP), a phthalate used to soften PVC plastics that can leach from PVC medical devices is linked to reproductive birth defects and other illnesses, this according to studies on animals," Cajayon said in an article posted Thursday on the House of Representatives website. The lawmaker said PVC, the most widely used plastic in medical devices, can be harmful to patients, to the environment and to public health. Cajayon cited the observation made by Ruth Stringer, an international science and policy coordinator for Health Care Without Harm, that doctors and health care experts in the Philippines have yet to become aware of the hazards of DEHP to human health. "While visiting various hospitals in the country, Stringer identified the San Lazaro Hospital, Philippine Children's Medical Center, and the Philippine Heart Center as among those hospitals where PVC products abound," Cajayon said. Also, she cited the findings of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the United States, which reaffirmed that DEHP poses a risk to human development and fertility. "The NTP's conclusion, which is an authoritative statement of the severity of concerns regarding exposure to DEHP in medical devices, affirms the urgent need for medical device manufacturers to stop using DEHP in their products as DEHP leaching out of PVC medical devices is among the highest routes of exposure," Cajayon said. Under the bill, all manufacturers should consistently label all PVC products including medical devices that may cause patient exposure to DEHP. Such labels shall include a cautionary statement in a prominent, clearly worded warning label stating that the PVC product contains DEHP. Also, the bill requires that the warning label or statement shall be displayed in its entirety on PVC products. Any PVC product without a warning label shall be considered a mislabeled or banned hazardous product and shall be withdrawn from the market at the expense of the manufacturer. Violators face up to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to P500,000. - GMANews.TV