Yesterday (23 April 2019), I and Gareth Simkins (reporter with the ENDS Report) testified at the EAC Inquiry into toxic chemicals. You can watch it here:
https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/12b6bfb1-f578-4056-bbc2-c0d1df54b29d
Our testimony begins at 15:07.
You can listen to the BBC's Parliament Today report on it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0777wmz
My written evidence to the EAC can be accessed here:
http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/environmental-audit-committee/toxic-chemicals/written/97678.pdf
Gareth's here:
http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/environmental-audit-committee/toxic-chemicals/written/97684.pdf
There is much to say about this Inquiry, including looking at the submissions provided by those with an interest in ensuring the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 remain unchanged. I intend to put up a page on this site concentrating on the Inquiry soon.
In the meantime, the bottom line in many ways that Gareth and I put to the Committee yesterday was this:
There are around a million tonnes of flame retardant chemicals in UK dwellings – about 45kgs per home – which do pretty much nothing for fire safety; instead they're poisoning us all and making fires that do take place far more toxic. If the UK did what the US and the EU do, which is to utilise just a cigarette/smoulder flammability test, all those chemicals could be removed and our sofas/mattresses would actually be safer.
https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/12b6bfb1-f578-4056-bbc2-c0d1df54b29d
Our testimony begins at 15:07.
You can listen to the BBC's Parliament Today report on it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0777wmz
My written evidence to the EAC can be accessed here:
http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/environmental-audit-committee/toxic-chemicals/written/97678.pdf
Gareth's here:
http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/environmental-audit-committee/toxic-chemicals/written/97684.pdf
There is much to say about this Inquiry, including looking at the submissions provided by those with an interest in ensuring the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 remain unchanged. I intend to put up a page on this site concentrating on the Inquiry soon.
In the meantime, the bottom line in many ways that Gareth and I put to the Committee yesterday was this:
There are around a million tonnes of flame retardant chemicals in UK dwellings – about 45kgs per home – which do pretty much nothing for fire safety; instead they're poisoning us all and making fires that do take place far more toxic. If the UK did what the US and the EU do, which is to utilise just a cigarette/smoulder flammability test, all those chemicals could be removed and our sofas/mattresses would actually be safer.
RSS Feed