Triclosan and Antibiotics resistance Links

1. Some of the websites providing factual information on Triclosan and Antibiotics resistance:

   • 1. Some EU documents relevant to Triclosan, Biocides and antimicrobial resistance
   • 2. Other international bodies addressing biocides and antimicrobial resistance

1. Some EU documents relevant to Triclosan, Biocides and antimicrobial resistance

• The Biocidal Product Directive (98/8/EC) of the European Parliament and of the Council aims to harmonise the European market for biocidal products and their active substances, while aiming to achieve a high level of protection for humans, animals and the environment. More information on the Directive, studies and projects concerning its implementation, the different biocidal product types, etc. can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biocides/ 
• The Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EEC) lays down rules on the composition, labelling and packaging of cosmetic products. It also introduces a ban on animal testing and on the marketing of products that have been tested on animals. It is this directive that sets the maximum allowed concentration of Triclosan in Cosmetics to 0.3%.
  http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/sectors/cosmetics/ 
• The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) of the European Commission has issued an Opinion on  "Antibiotic Resistance Effects of Biocides" produced in 2009.
• The Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) has issued in 2009 an opinion on the safety of the use of Triclosan in cosmetics:  “Triclosan COLIPA n° P32”
• The Scientific Steering Committee in the field of consumer health and food safety of the European Commission has issued:
  • an opinion on Antimicrobial Resistance (1999), which recommended, inter alia, "prudent use of antimicrobials", "reduction of the overall use of antimicrobials in a balanced way in all areas" and "the identification of major contributors to resistance":
     http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/ssc/out50_en.pdf
  • an opinion on triclosan (2002) which recommended "that the potential for biocides to induce antimicrobial resistance of importance to clinical medicine, or management of the wider environment be kept under continuous review.":
     http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/ssc/out269_en.pdf
• The Biocides Work Area of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission provides scientific and technical support for the approval of active substances in biocidal products: http://ecb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/biocides/ 
• The European Commission published a guidance document to clarify the borderline between the Biocidal Product Directive (98/8/EC), the Directive on medicinal products for human use (2001/83/EC) and the Directive on veterinary medicinal products (2001/82/EC)  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biocides/pdf/bordermedvet.pdf

2. Other international bodies addressing biocides and antimicrobial resistance

• A detailed list of products containing triclosan is provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by the Environmental Working Group, a US NGO: (www.ewg.org/node/26752url )
• The World Health Organization (WHO) addresses antimicrobial resistance. and presents relevant links and documents at: www.who.int/foodborne_disease/resistance/en/ 
• The OECD Biocide Programme aims to increase the efficiency in the registration of biocides and to help countries to reduce risks associated with biocides use. Information is available at :
  www.oecd.org/department/0,3355,en_2649_32159259_1_1_1_1_1,00.html