Phthalate labelling of medical devices.

In the European Union, the use of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in medical devices has been under serious pressure. A proposed ban on its use was avoided and changed into a labelling requirement. This article reports the dramatic political developments that resulted in this requirement and highlights some new alternative plasticisers that can be used if poly(vinyl chloride) devices without DEHP are required in the future.