Morocco Tightens Controls on Baby Diapers After European Health Alert

Thus, systematic sampling is carried out on all imports of baby diapers, reassures the Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and the Digital Economy, in order to analyze them in approved laboratories. These new measures are in addition to those already in place since 2004.

The controls also concern the local market and all brands marketed in Morocco, the ministry said, stating that this aims to "examine the compliance of imported diapers with the standards in force and identify the brands that would contain hazardous substances for the health of babies".

Among the chemical substances detected in disposable baby diapers, the presence of fragrances (hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde and butylphenyl methyl propional), dioxins and even polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that can be carcinogenic.

In Europe, baby diaper manufacturers have been asked to eliminate certain pesticides such as glyphosate and drastically reduce or even eliminate certain substances that exceed the toxicological reference values.

The industrialists had been summoned by the French authorities to make commitments to eliminate these substances from baby diapers within 15 days.