Disposable diapers: towards a Europe-wide chemical restriction?

ifashionclothing
30/05/2022
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Baby diapers contain chemicals. In fact, some companies have made it their trademark: Green layers, from organic farming or simply without products known to be harmful to health. After expressing concern in 2019 about chemicals in most layers of the market, the ANSES is proposing a European regulation to change the use of nearly 200 products.

Proven carcinogens

This restriction proposal has been submitted to the European Chemicals Agency. It aims to ensure a common level of safety for all babies in Europe, regardless of which diapers they buy from supermarkets or pharmacies.

Without completely banning them, the ANSES proposes to establish thresholds not to be exceeded for pointed products. These include polycyclic hydrocarbons, dioxynes, furans, recognised as carcinogenic by the WHO, PCBs and formaldehyde known for its irritating and carcinogenic effects.

Better control of the production line

Couches jetables : vers une restriction de produits chimiques à l'échelle européenne ?

After announcing that progress was being made on the toxicity of disposable diapers in France, the DGCCRF had pinpointed three brands, poor students, last July. They were Pampers premium Protection, Marmailles Plus and Moina Zaza.

In order to limit the risk of contamination of layers by certain products, the agency asks to strengthen manufacturing protocols and control of raw materials, with upstream testing of raw materials to ensure that they are not already contaminated. Finally, in order to ensure that these standards are met, a European-wide analysis process will have to be put in place, stressed the ANSES.