asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will favour a more stringent control of aerosols.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Aerosols.
20.
There is no control at present of aerosols in general, and no serious complaints have been received from the public about hazards arising from their use.
The EEC are in the course of preparing a directive on the harmonisation of legislation on aerosols. There are many technical considerations to be taken into account at international level and pending the completion of the EEC directive it would be premature to introduce separate regulations in this country.
Control of therapeutic substances contained in aerosols is, of course, a matter for the Minister for Health and the National Drugs Advisory Board.
I understand that the National Drugs Advisory Board in co-operation with the pharmaceutical companies have taken steps to guard against overdosage of asthma sufferers due to the use of aerosols. These steps include cautionary labelling of the aerosols and drawing to the notice of dispensing chemists the importance of adequately instructing patients in the proper use of the aerosols and the broncho-dilators contained in them.
The Minister will have seen a report in the newspapers of a death resulting from the use of an aerosol, not necessarily a pharmaceutical aerosol. The aerosol was sold freely over the counter and it caused freezing of the lung tissue and the death of the person. Would the Minister not consider ensuring that warnings are put on all aerosols to ensure they are not used in enclosed spaces? This should apply to all aerosols, irrespective of whether they are used for pharmaceutical purposes or not.
I will certainly bring what the Deputy has said to the notice of the relevant authority in my Department. I should point out that the aerosol manufacturers are members of the Federation of European Aerosol Manufacturers. This federation operates a code of practice to which its members conform. It publishes a monthly bulletin regarding its operations. I recognise that there is a difficulty here but I want to make it clear that it is not a difficulty of which we are unaware, and it is not a difficulty on which there is indifference. If the code of practice needs tightening—and I think there is now very significant evidence that it does need tightening—I will certainly press for that to be done.
When the EEC make regulations, do they ever consider representations from the member country called Ireland? Must we religiously go by what they decide or can we initiate anything?
I would prefer if the Deputy did not broaden the scope of the question to that extent.