§ Mr. Hancock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the presence of harmful chemicals in household items; and if she will make a statement. [131500]
§ Alun Michael:The Department has commissioned and evaluated research into chemicals in the environment. Some of these chemicals may also be present in household items and this has been considered where relevant, but this has not been the focus of the work as it is outside Defra's remit. The Department has also conducted reviews on chemicals, which have been shared with the United Nations Environment Programme and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. This is in addition to work which the Department conducts under the Existing Substances Regulation (EC) 793/93 to meet our regulatory responsibilities. This work is focused on the environment and also considers impacts on human health via the environment.