Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2024
253. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is aware of the recent findings that tampons contain measurable concentrations of heavy metals, including lead, as reported in international studies; and if so, what immediate actions will be taken to assess the safety of menstrual products sold in Ireland. [41143/24]
View answer254. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether the Government has conducted or plans to conduct any independent studies to assess the presence of heavy metals in menstrual products available on the Irish market, given recent international findings. [41144/24]
View answer255. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being put in place to ensure that menstrual products, including tampons, meet safety standards in relation to chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals, in Ireland. [41145/24]
View answer256. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether there are current regulations and safety standards specifically addressing the presence of heavy metals in menstrual products; and if these standards align with recent international research findings. [41146/24]
View answer257. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what steps are being taken to inform the public about the potential risks associated with the use of tampons containing heavy metals; and whether there will be a campaign to raise awareness among consumers about product safety. [41147/24]
View answer258. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider introducing mandatory labelling requirements for menstrual products sold in Ireland to disclose the presence of any harmful chemicals, including heavy metals, to better inform consumers. [41148/24]
View answer259. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are any plans to review the existing import regulations for menstrual products to ensure that those containing harmful levels of heavy metals do not enter the Irish market. [41150/24]
View answer260. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether his Department will introduce a system of routine testing for menstrual products in Ireland, similar to food safety testing, to ensure ongoing compliance with health standards. [41151/24]
View answer261. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what actions are being taken to engage with manufacturers and suppliers of menstrual products to address and mitigate the contamination risks highlighted in recent studies. [41152/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 261, inclusive, together.
My Department recognises the importance of ensuring that products placed on the market are safe.
Menstrual products currently fall under the scope of the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC1 as transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 199/2004.
These Regulations oblige producers to place only safe products on the market, to provide consumers with the relevant information to enable them to assess the risks that are inherent in a product and to take precautions against those risks. The Regulations provide that, in the absence of applicable European standards or standards at national level in relation to particular products, codes of good practice in force in the sector concerned shall be considered to assess the safety of a product. The Code sets out that producers are to provide consumers with standardised health-related information, such as reference to the toxic shock syndrome risk on the packaging, and with more detailed information and guidance in the instructions for use.
With the forthcoming General Product Safety Regulation, which replaces the General Product Safety Directive, the regulatory framework for non-harmonised consumer goods, such as menstrual products, will be significantly strengthened.
If a consumer has concerns around the safety of menstrual products, then they can contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) who are the competent authority with responsibility for products, such as tampons and sanitary pads, that come under the General Product Safety Directive. The CCPC will investigate the concerns and if warranted take appropriate action.
In addition, COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2023/1809 of 14 September 2023 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for absorbent hygiene products and for reusable menstrual cups, sets out limit values for of a list of chemicals/ metals before such products can be awarded EU Ecolabel.
