HC Deb 10 November 1999 vol 337 cc631-2W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Dr. Julian Braybrook, of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, chaired an Expert Committee on phthalates in toys, set up by the Weinberg Group; and if he will make a statement. [97462]

Dr. Howells

Dr. Braybrook chaired an independent scientific committee convened by the Weinberg Group. The remit of the committee, which met only once, was to comment on the initial opinion of the EU Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he has made to the statement made by the European Union Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment on 28 September on the adequacy of the tests developed by the Laboratory of the Government Scientist, for toys containing phthalates; and if he will make a statement. [97464]

Dr. Howells

My Department wrote to the Commission expressing disappointment that the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (SCTEE) could not accept the test developed by the LGC in its current form and concern that the Commission had not encouraged further discussion to address the points raised by the SCTEE. Many of the points raised in the SCTEE opinion could have been addressed in discussions between the LGC and the SCTEE before any final views were published. We believed, and continue to believe, that by working together it should be possible to establish a test which could be used for enforcement purposes across Europe, and which would have relevance beyond the safety of phthalates alone.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role the Laboratory of the Government Chemist has played in relation to phthalates in toys and in(a) advising and (b) representing the Government on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [97460]

Dr. Howells

LGC, a privatised and independent laboratory, was contracted to act in an advisory capacity to my Department on matters related to the migration behaviour of phthalates. An LGC scientist has attended certain meetings when technical issues in respect of phthalates were discussed. LGC has also been commissioned by my Department to develop a migration test to measure leaching levels from toys mouthed by children, and to test products currently on the UK market. LGC has also been funded by my Department to participate in work undertaken by both the European Commission and by the so called Dutch "consensus group".

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to ensure that British children are not exposed to phthalates in toys and to support the temporary ban proposed by the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection; and if he will make a statement. [97465]

Dr. Howells

All the scientific evidence to date has shown that phthalates can be safely used and our research shows that toys sold in the UK are safe. However, it is important to reach a Community solution, particularly in the interests of consistency in consumer safety so that consumers across Europe do not remain confused and concerned. In the light of this, if the Commission does adopt the draft proposal currently under discussion, I would be willing to accept a ban on phthalates in toys intended to be mouthed. Regarding a ban through emergency measures under the General Product Safety Directive, this would be the first time that such measures were used to ban a product. The measures are there to be used where risk is serious and immediate, and given the scientific evidence regarding phthalates, their use in this case would, in our view, be inappropriate.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Dr. Julian Braybrook, of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, wrote on behalf of the Weinberg Group Experts' Committee to all European Commissioners against an emergency ban on toys containing phthalates; and if he will make a statement. [97463]

Dr. Howells

No. Dr. Braybrook did not write to European Commissioners, nor to any other bodies, regarding an emergency ban.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Dr. Julian Braybrook, of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, participated as a UK Government delegate in the European Commission's Emergencies Committee meeting on 14 July 1998; and if he will make a statement. [97461]

Dr. Howells

Dr. Braybrook attended a meeting of the Emergencies Committee on 14 September, at the request of the Commission, to present the migration test devised by the LGC. He has attended other meetings as scientific adviser to the UK delegation.