HC Deb 29 March 1973 vol 853 cc1502-3
3. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now concluded his review of the toiletry industry with regard to hexachlorophane; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Lane)

The use of hexachlorophane in non-medicinal toilet preparations and cosmetics is under consideration in the European Economic Community. Meanwhile, the associations representing manufacturers in this country have agreed to comply with the recommendation of the Department of Health and Social Security's Sub-Committee on Toxicity that hexachlorophane should not be used at all in baby products and should be subject to an upper limit of 01 per cent. in other cases.

Mr. Pavitt

I welcome this belated response after 13 months, but will the hon. Gentleman examine the whole range of chemicals added to articles in household use that come under the jurisdiction of his Department to make sure that they are covered by a foolproof system similar to that which is established in the Department of Health and Social Security?

Mr. Lane

I shall certainly look again at this. There is a later Question on the Order Paper which bears on it. I can reassure parents straight away on the immediate point by saying that our medical advice is that there is no significant risk to health from products containing hexachlorophane at present on sale in this country.

Mrs. Joyce Butler

I welcome the Minister's reply, but is the Poisons Committee considering the chemicals mentioned in Question No. 22? Inevitably, with the restriction on the use of hexachlorophane there will be a search for alternatives, some of which may be equally dangerous.

Mr. Lane

In case we do not reach Question 22, I assure the hon. Lady that we shall be ready to take further action if we think, on medical advice, that these alternatives present a risk to health.