Source: European Parliament
The new General Product Safety Regulation[1] strengthens the safety framework for consumer products, including menstrual products.
It requires manufacturers to perform an internal risk analysis for every product- taking into account consumer categories, including gender differences- and eliminate or mitigate all identified risks, including by adding warnings and instructions for safe use.
Also, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation[2] regulates chemical substances in consumer products and bans the use of certain hazardous substances (e.g. the dioctyltin (DOT) compounds) in menstrual products. Another restriction on skin sensitisers is in preparation too.
In the future, the Commission, in cooperation with the Consumer Safety Network and taking into account the number of accidents reported, could explore the development of future standardisation work[3].
In the Coordinated Activities on the Safety of Products 2022, menstrual products were tested against European and international standards, indicating overall compliance. Also, the Product Safety Award 2023 recognised companies innovating in menstrual product safety.
Finally, the Commission recognises the importance of research into menstrual product safety. While there are no initiatives under Horizon Europe, or the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV) programme at this stage, the Commission is open to exploring funding opportunities supporting scientific advancements and consumer safety in this area.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2023/988 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on general product safety, amending Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and the Council, and repealing Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 87/357/EEC. OJ L 135, 23.5.2023, p. 1-51, applicable since 13th December 2024.
- [2] Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC. OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1-850.
- [3] Official European standard setting organisations have started to develop certain deliverables on the topic notably with the CEN workshop agreement on absorbent hygiene products. While this standardisation deliverable will not per se deal with the toxic shock syndrome and warnings regarding the duration of use of products, it will provide for test method to assess the potential presence of trace chemicals in absorbent hygiene products useful for manufacturers as well as Market Surveillance authorities to test their safety. More info can be found here: https://www.cencenelec.eu/news-and-events/news/2023/workshop/2023-02-02-ahps/.