§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on human health of textile and leather finishing treatments; what advice has been given to the public relating to their use; and if he will make a statement. [119084]
§ Mr. BrowneI have been asked to reply
No assessment has been made for such treatments.
In the case of finishing treatments used in workplaces, there are duties placed on employers to carry out assessments of any hazardous substances that may be present in such treatments and to put in place appropriate workplace control measures. HSE has issued a series of information sheets on controlling the hazards from dyes and chemicals in textiles finishing, which includes guidance on the particular risks to employees from reactive dyes and spotting solvents. Copies have been placed in the Library and are available at www.hse.gov.uk/textiles/dvestuffs.htm
Some of the chemicals that may be used in such treatments have been assessed, or are currently undergoing assessment under the EU Existing Substances Regulation (ESR) or within the OECD Existing Chemicals programme. Risk assessment that have been agreed by all EU member states have been placed in the Library and are made publicly available on the internet, via the website of the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) at http://ecb.jrc.it/existing-chemicals/