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By Helen Cranford in Brussels
The minimum size of the Euro-condom has been decided, it was announced in Brussels yesterday. The minimum length is to be 6.63 inches (170mm) and the width should be 44-56mm - and that's official. The decision follows years of negotiations after Italy proposed a uniform width of 54mm but its northern neighbours complained that this was too small.
Experts had determined that the maximum width for a condom should be 55mm. "One millimetre either way can make all the difference," said a Commission official at the time. "To be blunt, it is either too tight or it comes off." In Britain the BSI standard had limited choice to either 48mm or 52mm. "The new rule allows a greater potential for a variety of dimensions," said Suzanne Larque, of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).
Most countries have national standards but with differing methods for testing strength and stretch, said Stewart Sanson, of CEN, which drew up the new regulation at the request of the European Commission. Although the new standard is not legally binding on manufacturers, "we think everyone will adopt it", Mr Sanson said. "What we wanted was a good, high minimum standard at a reasonable price."
By harmonising safety parameters, European Standard EN 600 aims to reconcile public confidence in condoms made in other countries with the right of free trade in all European countries.
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