“If They Are Not Labeled, How Do We Know What’s Risky and What’s Not?”: Assessing Information on Brominated Flame Retardants in Children’s Plastic Products in South Africa

Background: Global literature indicates that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), types of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), are increasingly found in children's plastic products. These products are widely sold in South Africa. PBDEs and HBCDD are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) banned under the Stockholm Convention due to their severe health impacts, including endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and cancer. Information about chemicals present in these plastic products is necessary to inform risk reduction measures. Methods: This study assessed the availability and accessibility of information on POP-BFRs in children's plastic products in South Africa to enhance stakeholders' capacity to implement risk reduction measures. The study was guided by the chemicals-in-products (CiP) information-sharing framework developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2015. Data collection involved in-depth interviews and an online survey. South African stakeholders participated, including those involved in manufacturing, regulation, and advocacy (n = 10) and consumers (n = 44). Data was analyzed thematically using NVivo. Results: CiP information on POP-BFRs in children's plastic products was largely unavailable. Regulatory and advocacy stakeholders had limited general information on POP-BFRs and the associated risks. Additionally, they had limited access to POP-BFRs information, while consumers had none. Conclusion: National and international coordinated actions are necessary to close the POP-BFRs information gaps. The South African government should develop and enforce an overarching chemical legislation, establish a national chemical register, and require full disclosure of CiP. UNEP should establish a global standardized system for CiP information under the 2023 Global Framework on Chemicals.