Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 32 of 2024–25

The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill [HL] at second reading on 17 January 2025. The bill is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party). It would restrict the use of substances with antimicrobial properties, known as biocides, in cosmetic, personal care and other treated products, for example clothing and period products, subject to certain exemptions. Among other measures, the bill would create an advisory board to advise ministers on the use and effect of biocides in products. The bill would also provide a regulation-making power for ministers to ban certain products on specified grounds. Regulations created under this power would need to be approved by both Houses of Parliament before they could become law.

Baroness Bennett has explained the purpose of her eight-clause bill as follows:

The bill addresses the public health threats posed by the use of biocides (substances with antimicrobial properties) in consumer products. Biocides present a direct risk to individuals through microbiotoxicity (damage to their microbiomes), and a public health danger through further increasing environmental antimicrobial resistance. The bill takes a legally innovative approach of preventing the use of biocides in consumer products intended for human use, including cosmetics, personal care items, and treated articles such as clothing and period products, unless their benefits can be demonstrated.

Baroness Bennett served as treasurer to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Antimicrobial Resistance in the last parliament. The APPG was supported by the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC), which describes itself as seeking to help prevent disease, develop more effective practice and influence international policy on antimicrobial matters. BSAC has published a policy briefing to accompany the bill.