WRITTEN QUESTION E-0501/02 by Anneli Hulthén (PSE) to the Commission. Chemicals in cleansing wipes.
Date: 2002-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, chemical product, cosmetic product, early childhood, health policy, scientific committee (EU), toiletries

C 229 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

(2002/C 229 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0501/02

by Anneli Hulthén (PSE) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Chemicals in cleansing wipes

It is a well-known fact that children, and in particular babies, are very sensitive to chemicals and other
contaminants. Because they have thin skin, their bodies absorb more chemicals than adults’ bodies do.

The use of baby wipes is increasing sharply year by year. In Sweden, for instance, use has doubled over the
past three years. Unfortunately, the number of additives, e.g. strong preservatives, is also increasing. Many
wipes may contain over 30 additives, many of which damage both the environment and people’s health.
Some firms, for instance, use the preservative bromonitropropandiol in their wipes. Several reports have
shown that this substance has a medium toxicity if it comes into contact with skin and that it can cause
allergies. The firms concerned argue that it has been approved by the relevant EU scientific committee.

Since January 1999, manufacturers have been required under EU law to declare all hygiene product
ingredients in descending order by quantity, but this is clearly not enough to protect our children’s health
and the environment.

Does the Commission not take the view that the precautionary principle should apply with regard to these
products, as they are intended for use on children, who are in fact more sensitive than anyone else?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 2002)

The Commission shares the opinion of the Honourable Member on the need to ensure the prevention of
any harmful effects of chemicals on the health and well being of small children and infants.

The risks manifested by various chemicals are a function of their inherent toxic properties (hazard) and of
human exposure to them. In general, chemicals are managed at Community level on the basis of risk
assessment (hazard + exposure). This is because for many of the toxic properties of chemicals, it is possible
to define a level of exposure that it is considered to be safe.

The chemicals used in baby wipes are subject to the provisions of the Cosmetics Directive, Council
Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
cosmetic products (1). Accordingly, the manufacturers of cosmetic products are under the obligation to
assess the safety of their products and their ingredients in order to ensure that only safe products are made
available to consumers. When new ingredients are to be used or new questions arise on existing materials,
the opinion of the Scientific Committee on Cosmetics and Non Food Products (SCCNFP) is requested.

the
In the specific case of preservatives,
Cosmetics Directive operates with an authorisation scheme so that only materials that have been approved
by the SCCNFP are allowed to be used under conditions (concentration limits, purity requirements etc) that
are specified by the SCCNFP. Bromo-nitro-propane-diol has been evaluated by the SCCNFP, and is allowed
to be used in cosmetic products (listed in Annex IV of the Directive) up to a level of 0,1 %.

like bromo-nitro-propane-diol

(also known as Bronopol),

Concerning the higher sensitivity of the skin of small children, the Commission is not aware of any
scientific evidence that baby skin is more sensitive or that it allows more chemicals to pass through than
the skin of adults. In fact, there is ample published scientific evidence showing that new-born skin rapidly
matures in the first days to weeks after birth to become as impermeable to chemicals as adult skin. The

26.9.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/95

difference between infants and adults is that the infant skin surface area relative to the infant body weight
is higher than that of adults. This results in a theoretical potential for increased exposure of infants to
chemicals being applied to their skin by a factor of 2-3 versus the exposure of adults. This difference
however, is taken into account in the risk assessment process.

The Commission wishes to reassure the Honourable Member of its commitment to ensure a high level of
health and safety. In doing so the Commission intends to continue monitoring and incorporating new
evidence in the risk assessment process, making use of independent scientific advice, and using the
appropriate instruments including the precautionary principle to manage the risk of chemicals.

(1) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.

(2002/C 229 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0505/02

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(27 February 2002)

Subject: Sentence of death by stoning in Sudan

According to information from Human Rights Watch, on 8 December 2001, a criminal court in the town
of Nyala in southern Sudan sentenced 18-year-old Abok Alfa Akok, who was pregnant at the time, to
death by stoning for adultery, whereas the man with whom she had sexual relations was not convicted
because of a lack of evidence. The Sudanese Government, it should be recalled, ratified the International
Convention on Civil and Political Rights in March 1986 which prohibits the carrying out of the death
penalty on a pregnant woman.

Will the Council exert pressure on the Sudanese Government to honour its international commitments,
refrain from carrying out the death penalty by stoning and hold a new trial in accordance with legal
procedures which ensure that Ms Abok Alfa Akok has legal representation in court and recourse to the
language that she understands?

Reply

(26 June 2002)

The EU has repeatedly expressed its deep concern about the different forms of punishment (death penalty
and amputation) and urged the Sudanese government to speed up the ratification process of the UN
Convention against Torture and other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. To
underline its concern with the human rights situation in Sudan the EU introduced a draft Resolution on
this subject at the 56th UN General Assembly and has again presented a Resolution calling for a halt to
human rights violations in Sudan in the United Nations Commission for Human Rights in Geneva. This
Resolution was adopted in April 2002. With special focus on the situation of women the EU advocated
the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW) by the Sudanese government.

Human rights remain one of the main issues being discussed and followed up in the framework of the EU-
Sudan political dialogue initiated in 1999. The EU has been stressing the importance that Sudanese law be
consistent with international human rights instruments and that Sudan respect its commitments under the
International Convention on Civil Rights (ratified on 23 March 1976). The Council continues to closely
monitor the human rights situation in Sudan, in particular the case of Ms Abok Alfa Akok.