HC Deb 12 February 1997 vol 290 cc218-20W
Mr. Donald Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those organisations consulted by his Department on the draft Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996, indicating the date when each meeting took place. [15129]

Mr. John M. Taylor

One hundred and fifty-five organisations and individuals were sent one or both of the consultation documents on the draft cosmetics regulations. A list of these organisations and individuals has been placed in the Library of the House. Representations received, including meetings, are regarded as confidential unless otherwise agreed with the parties concerned.

Mr. Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will amend section 8(3) of the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996 (No. 2925) in 1997 to bring the wording into line with article 7A.1(e) of the Council directive 76/768/EEC as inserted by Council directive 93/35/EEC of 14 June 1993. [15124]

Mr. Taylor

I am advised that regulation 8(3) of the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996 transposes correctly article 7A.1(e) of the cosmetics directive. However, in light of the concerns raised about the interpretation of article 7A.1(e), my officials will be meeting the Commission in order to seek a way in which we can resolve concerns expressed by industry without placing the UK in breach of its Community obligations.

Mr. Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the text of section 8(3) of the draft Cosmetic Product (Safety) Regulations 1996, was based on the text of article 7A.1(e) of the Council directive 76/768/EEC as inserted by Council directive 93/35/EEC of 14 June 1996. [15122]

Mr. Taylor

Draft regulation 8(3), issued for consultation in July 1996, was intended to reflect the meaning of Article 7A.1(e) of the cosmetics directive, but following further consideration, it was decided that correct transposition of the directive required revised wording.

Mr. Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the role of the Royal Society of Chemistry as defined in the annexe to directive 89/48 EEC. [15126]

Mr. Taylor

The Royal Society of Chemistry is listed in the annexe to directive 89/48/EEC. However, article 7A.1(e) of the cosmetics directive 76/768/EEC, as amended, requires that the person responsible for the safety assessmentmust hold a diploma as defined in Article 1 of Directive 89/48/EEC in the field of pharmacy, toxicology, dermatology, medicine or a similar discipline.

My officials will be seeking clarification from the Commission as to what constitutes a similar discipline.

Mr. Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the representations he had received on section 8(3) of the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996 (No. 2925). [15123]

Mr. Taylor

My Department has received representations from five organisations. Representations to the Department from individuals or organisations, on any topic, are treated as confidential unless it is agreed that they can be made public.

Mr. Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to amend the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996 (No. 2925). [15127]

Mr. Taylor

The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996 implement in the UK the cosmetics directive 76/768/EEC and all subsequent amendments made to it. On average, the cosmetics directive is amended once a year. The Commission has recently amended the directive for the 20th time and we will need to amend the regulations to implement the requirements of that directive by 30 June 1997. The Commission has proposed further amendments to the directive. If, and when, these are agreed, we will amend our regulations accordingly.

Mr. Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received about section 8(3) of the draft Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996. [15125]

Mr. Taylor

Of 51 written responses to the consultation documents issued in October 1995 and July 1996, five commented on regulation 8(3).

Mr. Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what factors led his Department to amend section 8(3) of the draft Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996, following the completion of the consultation process initiated on 30 July 1996. [15121]

Mr. Taylor

On close and detailed examination of the text of article 7A.1(e) of the cosmetics directive 76/768/EEC, as amended, it became clear that draft regulation 8(3) failed to implement the directive correctly.

Mr. Anderson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department sent the Royal Society of Chemistry its consultative note on the proposed new regulations on cosmetic products. [15128]

Mr. Taylor

The Royal Society of Chemistry was not on the mailing list for the draft regulations issued for consultation in July 1996.