Two laboratory-based linear horizontal agitation methods for determining a range of phthalate esters from soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys are presented in compliance with EU legislation. Both of these methods were validated through interlaboratory trials using a PVC reference disc and four soft PVC toy/childcare articles intended or likely to be mouthed. Two of these commercial samples contained diisononyl phthalate (DINP), one diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and one bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Acceptable repeatability (r, within-laboratory) and reproducibility (R, between-laboratory) data were demonstrated for both the analytical detection technique (GC-MS) (r = 9.8% and R = 8.1%) and agitation/extraction procedure (r=21.9% and R = 35.3% at 37 degrees C; r = 22.7% and R = 31.1% at 65 degrees C) for DINP. This was achieved through the participation of six laboratories. The remaining three phthalates from the EU Scientific Committee for Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) list--dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)--were not tested due to the unavailability of suitable materials.