Answer for question E-001083/25

EN E-001083/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission (16.6.2025) The new General Product Safety Regulation1 strengthens the safety framework for consumer products, including menstrual products. It requires manufacturers to perform an internal risk analysis for every producttaking into account consumer categories, including gender differencesand 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) Regulation2 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 work3. 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...