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Play it safe
January 2007 saw the publication of an important revision to the European health and safety regulations surrounding the use of phthalates in plastic toys. These chemical compounds, used as plasticisers to make rigid PVC flexible, can constitute a health risk, particularly in children and as such, they are now restricted for use in all toy and childcare articles via pan-European directive 2005/84/EC.
Importantly, printers should be aware that the phthalates legislation also applies to any self-adhesive PVC stickers or labels on toys that use phthalates.
To avoid this issue, Jac Graphics offers the Ecoplus range of PVC-free, environmentally-friendly self-adhesive films designed to meet all EU health and safety standards, including the new phthalates directive. Readers are invited to check out the quality of these films by studying the printed sample of Jac Ecoplus enclosed within this issue of Screen Process and Digital Imaging.
Available as a standard stock item from UK distributor, McNaughton Printall, Jac Ecoplus PVC-free sheet-fed films can be used for screen and offset printing. Facestocks are available in three qualities: a gloss transparent and a gloss white PP film with a print-friendly top coating and a matte white corona-treated cast PE film. All three are offered with Duro D500 adhesive, a multi-purpose permanent emulsion acrylic adhesive and Nonperm C3, a UV-stable, removable emulsion acrylic adhesive. Both are approved for use in direct contact with dry, non-fatty foodstuffs and comply with the EU plastics and foodstuffs directives 2002/72/EC and 1935/2004/EC. Jac adhesive C3 can also be used in contact with moist foods and complies with the US food and drugs regulation FDA 175.105.
Users can choose either a solid-back or scored release liner for optimal printing, diecutting and application, safe in the knowledge that all labels will comply with European toy regulations EN 71-3.
Global product manager, offset, screen and labels, for the Jac Graphics Division, Oliver Günther, said: “We have developed the Jac EcoPlus range to deliver environmental and health-safe properties with no compromise on print quality. The surface pre-treatment of these films make it possible to achieve high-impact graphic results.”
