§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will revise his Department's procedures for detecting dangerous products, with particular reference to face paints; and if he will ensure that measures are taken to license face paint;
(2) if he will institute an immediate inquiry into the company selling the children's face paint which has resulted in children in Edinburgh being taken to hospital, with particular reference as to how the product came to be made available; and if he will ensure that his consumer safety unit co-ordinates the recall of all Aqua Fantasy face paint products.
§ Mr. Ian TaylorFace paints for children are subject to the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1989, as amended in 1993 and the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1989, as amended in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. These regulations implement EC directives. Day-to-day enforcement of safety legislation is the responsibility of local authority trading standards departments. Trading standards officers have all the necessary powers to enforce safety legislation and to take appropriate action when an unsafe product is found on sale.
There are no requirements to license face paints but the toys regulations require manufacturers or their authorised representative to maintain a dossier to demonstrate the safety of their products and to make this available to the enforcement authorities on request. A similar provision will be introduced for cosmetics by an amendment to the cosmetics directive.
The consumer safety unit of my Department is in close contact with the Department of Health and the trading standards administration about the face paints sold under the name of "Aqua Fantasy". It has been established that there are two importers of the products, both of whom are co-operating with trading standards officers in the recall of the products. Tests are also being carried out on the paints to establish whether they meet the safety regulations applicable to them.
The Department of Health issued a press release on 31 October alerting the public to the dangers associated with the face paints. Information is also being sought from the manufacturer and the United Kingdom importers on the possible causes of the recent accidents given that these products have been on the market for four years.