Every morning, Marie Dupin slips into the skin of a personality, an event, a place or a fact at the heart of the news.
They can be called tampon, towel, “cup” or even menstrual panties: these are the periodic protections. And nothing to do with sanitary protection, since the rules are not dirty, it should be remembered. Until recently, these protections were reserved for the realm of intimacy, not to say taboo. But now they are regularly at the heart of the news.
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For years, consumer associations, and even the health safety agency, have published disturbing studies on potentially toxic substances – traces of dioxins and pesticide residues – found in tampons and towels. Associations have therefore been calling for the introduction of new rules for years. And it will soon be done with a government decree published in early July. And yet, associations see red.
10,000 tampons and pads in a lifetime
Because the problem is that last year, the Minister of Health had assured that, soon, “Every woman would know what’s in her tampon or pad“. In reality, the draft decree unveiled on Saturday May 27 by the JDD, and that franceinfo was able to consult, is far from up to par. If the text has the merit of indicating on the instructions the risks of toxic shock, on the composition, nothing or almost. Manufacturers will only have to indicate which products have been added intentionally, such as cotton or perfume. No indication on the presence or not of toxic products. Nothing either on a possible ban or even just a limitation of these toxins, as it exists for diapers.
In the meantime, periodic protections therefore remain less regulated than a bandage. They are not considered a medical device, although they are in direct contact with the mucous membranes, and a woman uses an average of 10,000 tampons and pads during her life. Several feminist associations are therefore putting a petition online, to try to influence the government’s decision before the decree has received… its stamp.