Protect Our Children
Fire safety campaign on its way to Europe
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| FIGHT FOR SAFER PYGAMAS: Burn victim Daniel Michard-Harrison with his mother, Lisa |
A EURO boss who has the power to initiate new legislation is to consider The Northern Echo's campaign to protect children.
Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Protection, is to meet North-East MEP Stephen Hughes later this month.
They will discuss The Northern Echo's campaign to change the law and ensure all children's pyjamas are flame resistant.
The Protect Our Children campaign was launched after two-year-old Daniel Mitchard-Harrison, from Dalton, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, suffered terrible burns when his pyjamas set alight.
A quirk in the law means that children's pyjamas are not covered by the stringent laws which demand that all girls' nightdresses and dressing gowns have to be flame resistant.
In the US, there is no distinction between nightdresses and pyjamas, all have to be flame resistant.
After Daniel's accident his grandfather, Andrew Mitchard, set fire to the same pair of pyjama shorts that Daniel was wearing - and discovered that they will burn to nothing in less than 60 seconds.
To date, nearly 2,500 people across the world have signed a petition calling for a change in the law, including seven MEPs.
In addition, 36 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to change the law.
The campaign also has the backing of the fire service and trading standards.
MEP Stephen Hughes has set up the meeting with Ms Kuneva and believes it is an important step forward to get the law changed. He said: "We hope that she will prove to be a willing gatekeeper and open the door to a change in legislation.
"It will be interesting to hear what she thinks about this matter and I hope that she will not take much persuading."
Ms Kuneva is Bulgarian and in October 2006 she became the first Bulgarian member of the European Commission.
As one of the 26 commissioners, she has the power to initiate new laws.
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union. It drafts legislation for, enforces regulations of, and provides external representation on behalf of the EU.
The Northern Echo is also planning to hand its petition over to the petitions branch of the EU.
9:21am Tuesday 5th June 2007
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