Vol. 493 No. 3
115 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 9 December 1997, whether the Director of Consumer Affairs and the National Standards Authority of Ireland have responded to her request to review the issue of flammability of clothing; and the recommendations, if any, they have made on future steps that might be taken in this regard. [16264/98]
I am advised that the matter to which the Deputy refers is under active consideration jointly by NSAI and the Office of Consumer Affairs.
In March 1998, the EU Commission confirmed a contract with CEN, the European Standards Committee, for a study of the practicality of introducing standards for flammability aspects of nightwear throughout the EU. The development of such a European standard would replace the Irish standard — IS 148.
The existence of this CEN project makes further development of the Irish standard difficult due to a standstill agreement, whereby the member countries of CEN have agreed not to proceed with the development of national standards in parallel.
However, within the context of this project in the CEN Technical Committee TC 248 — Textile and Textile Products, NSAI proposes to have the broader issue of general clothing flammability addressed. NSAI has already had discussions with the National Safety Council in this regard.
The Office of Consumer Affairs has addressed the matter through its partner bodies in the other EU member states and is currently awaiting information which may support the introduction of more restricted flammability requirements on clothing.
