§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what azo or other synthetic dyes are used in the manufacture of lipstick; what research has been done on the cumulative toxicity of such dyes and with what results; and whether any control is exercised over the use of them for this purpose.]
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I understand that many synthetic dyes have been used in lipstick manufacture for a long time. So far as I am aware, no research has been undertaken on behalf of Her Majesty's Government into the toxicity of the dyes used for this purpose. If the noble Lord has reason to think that any particular lipstick is toxic perhaps he will be good enough to let me know.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHIs the noble Lord aware that the Food and Drug Administration of the United States has recently banned no fewer than seventeen synthetic dyes for use in lipstick; and is it not well known that many of these synthetic dyes are cancer inciting?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, in fact I am not aware of any action on the part of the American Government because, so far as I know, they have not done anything further than produce a proposal to ban seventeen dyes. This is very much in the early proposal stages and is far from any form of firm decision.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, if no research.has been done in this country, may I ask the noble Lord whether it is not the fact that the action taken in the United States is based upon research?
§ LORD CHESHAMIt may well be, but, so far as I know, the problem which 844 the noble Lord has raised is a new one, and I can only repeat that if he has evidence that there are toxic substances used in the manufacture of lipstick I should be mast grateful if he could let we know about it.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMay I suggest to the noble Lord that he has a commercial attaché in Washington who can provide him with the information?