Protect Our Children
‘Pyjama campaign moving slowly’
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| FIRE VICITIM: Daniel Mitchard-Harrison with his mother, Liza |
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A EURO MP at the forefront of efforts
to establish new legislation
on flame-resistant clothing for
children last night said that the
process was moving forward - albeit
slowly.
Stephen Hughes MEP said he
remained committed to the cause
and was confident that legislation
would eventually be introduced.
Mr Hughes is one of several
high-profile supporters of the
Protect Our Children campaign,
which includes fellow MEP Fiona
Hall, six MPs and Bruce Philp - a
leading burns plastic surgeon
from Chelmsford, in Essex.
The petition has also attracted
the signatures of ordinary people
from across the world, with supporters
from as far afield as Estonia,
Belgium, Holland and the
US.
Mr Hughes said that the EU's
scientific committee still has concerns
about the affect that the
chemicals used to make clothing
flame resistant could have on
children.
"I wish I could say we will get
there tomorrow, but the wheels
move slowly," he said.
"We are still pressing the scientific
committee and the petition
is with the petitions committee.
"The scientific committee
needs to reach agreement but
some members are proving to be
obstinate.
"There is still this argument
that the harm the chemicals used
to make the material flame resistant
can cause outweighs the
overall protection that can be
gained.
"They are okay about it being
used in loose-fitting clothes, but
not in tight-fitting pyjamas.
"In the US - where they take
the protection of children very
seriously - it is used in both and
I don't see why we should be any
different."
He added: "Maria Matsouka
(the vice president of the petitions
committee) was very sympathetic
to this case and would
like to see legislation introduced.
"She is lobbying the issue for
us and keen to see this resolved."
There is a European standard
for children's night clothes - but
they are for guidance only and
are not enforceable by law.
To create binding legislation
there would need to be agreement
from the European Commission,
EU member countries
and the European Parliament.
The issue is expected to be discussed
further at a meeting of
the petitions committee in the
summer.
8:25am Monday 21st April 2008
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