Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 9

Written Answers. - EC Regulations.

Alan Shatter

Question:

42 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health whether his attention has been drawn to a proposal by the European Commission to introduce regulations for a standard European condom; whether he has approved the Commission's suggested uniform specifications; the research, if any, undertaken by his Department in relation to this proposal; the views, if any, expressed by the Government or his Department to the Commission on the proposal; and whether he will introduce legislation to implement this proposal.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I am aware that the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) is drafting a standard for "Natural rubber latex male condoms" and my Department liaises in the matter with the National Standards Authority of Ireland which is the Irish representative to CEN. When the CEN standard is adopted all EC and EFTA countries including Ireland will be required to adopt it as a national standard. I intend to implement this standard under the Health (Family Planning) Amendment Act, 1993. I hope that the Standard will be adopted in the near future but if not, I propose to give consideration to an appropriate course of action to ensure that condoms supplied here are of the highest quality.