§ 32. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce regulations to prevent the use of chloroform in toothpaste made or sold in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganI have received no criticism to suggest the need for this, but I shall be glad to consider any information which my hon. Friend may wish to send me.
§ Mrs. ButlerWill my hon. Friend confirm that toothpaste made in the United States to a formula containing three to five per cent. chloroform is sold without restriction in this country? If so, is not this a grave misuse of a toxic drug and does it not underline the need for some kind of regulation or more informative labelling of toilet preparations?
§ Mr. MorganThe position, broadly, is that chloroform has been included in Part 1 of the Poisons List since its first promulgation in 1935. At present, substances containing less than one per cent. of chloroform, solid preparations and toothpaste, are specifically exempted from control. I know of three brands of toothpaste, which I will not name, containing chloroform, but I have no information to suggest that their use may have harmful effects.