French Prolonged Blocking Order for Foam Plastic Flooring [Focus]

Frederique Lefevere, the Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs of the French Ministry of Economic Affairs, has announced that the ban on the sale of foam mosaic floors in France will be extended for four months until July 15, 2011.

In December last year, France and Belgium issued a ban on foam plastic puzzle flooring because it contains toxic substances formamide, which is detrimental to children's health.

The French authorities recently conducted a sample inspection of more than 40 sets of foamed plastic puzzle flooring and found that all currently-prepared puzzle floors contain formamide, and the amount of formamide per kg of foam floor ranges from 31 to 1,266 milligrams, so an extension was made. The decision on the ban period.

Foam puzzle flooring with various patterns is not new to most families and has been sold on the market for many years. Today, it is widely used in kindergartens, gymnasiums and other places.

The addition of formamide to foamed plastic products enables foaming of plastics and reduces production costs. It also increases the flexibility of plastic products, making them less susceptible to breakage. Experts pointed out that formamide is a toxic substance and must be controlled in dosage. It is reported that in 2013 or 2015, the EU will clarify the safety standards for formamide content in plastic products.