BPF statement in response to ECB advice

In response to reports that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has advised that certain equipment given to children should no longer be used, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) has issued the following statement:

The safety of the public - especially children - should always be the highest priority and we support the decision to conduct an expert review of these products in an objective manner.

Plastic products and the additives used are completely safe when they fall within legislated safety limits, which are decided upon after rigorous testing. Unfortunately, in this instance, according to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) “phthalates in these items were of levels in excess of those permitted by relevant regulations.”      

Whilst the ECB is issuing this advice "out of an abundance of caution" it is worth noting that the expert company that conducted the risk assessment has stated it has “not identified any direct risk to participants in the ­programmes in respect of the balls.”

At this point in time, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) does not know where these products were made, which company manufactured them nor where the material and additives were sourced. However, UK manufacturers of plastic products take their safety obligations incredibly seriously and will be keen to learn the outcome of any subsequent investigations to ensure that nothing like this happens again. 

Further information from the ECB