Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 1

Written Answers - Dental Service.

John Dennehy

Question:

419 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many dentists offering tooth-whitening facilities may be breaching an EU regulation that makes it illegal to administer hydrogen peroxide bleach at a greater than 0.1% concentration; if a recommendation by the EU Scientific Committee for Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products to raise the permitted level of hydrogen peroxide to 6% is likely to be implemented; the action he proposes to take in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7182/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The European Communities (Cosmetic Products) Regulations, 1997, (Statutory Instrument No. 87 of 1997) restricts the maximum concentration to 0.1% hydrogen peroxide in an oral hygiene cosmetic product placed on the market by any person. These regulations provide for the enforcement of these provisions by my Department, the health boards and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The chief dental officer of my Department has also informed me that the Dental Council and the Irish Dental Association have been advised to remind dentists of this prevailing restriction on the use of hydrogen peroxide in tooth-whitening products and the importance of complying with it.

I am informed that this issue is being examined by the European Commission in consultation with the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products. The current position is that further clarifications are required from this Committee regarding certain aspects of its previous opinion to relax the restriction on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in tooth-whitening products. However, the outcome of these deliberations and the likelihood of amending the concentration of hydrogen peroxide may not be predicted.