Written question asked by Robert Goodwill (Conservative) on Thursday, 9 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 March 2006. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Monday, 20 March 2006 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Labelling (Fabrics)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he has taken to ensure the labelling of fabrics that have been treated with tri-n-butyl tin.

Answer: None. The use of tributyl tin (which might also be described as tri-n-butyl tin) is regulated within the European Union by the Biocidal Products Directive (implemented in the UK by the Biocidal Products Regulations 2001). Certain uses of tributyl tin are already banned throughout the EU, and certain tributyl tin derivates are required to be removed from the market by 1 September 2006. The use of all other tributyl tin derivates currently approved is under review.All consumer products are subject to the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive (implemented in the UK by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005), where they are not otherwise, and to the same extent, subject to product-specific regulation. The General Product Safety Regulations require that manufacturers and importers should satisfy themselves, before placing any product on the market, that it is safe in normal and reasonably foreseeable use; and that they should conduct such safety assessments as may be necessary to demonstrate the safety of the product.

Secondary information