Tampon rules face major update after pesticide and toxin discovery

Organic period care brand TOTM - Time of the Month - has unveiled a public clock outside Parliament counting the millions of minutes period products have been sold without regulation. Nearly 100 years after tampons were first invented, there is still no product-specific statutory safety testing for tampons in the UK, nor are manufacturers required to disclose or label ingredients.

Many everyday household goods, from sponges to candles, do legally require safety testing. The brand has launched a petition, calling on the government to make urgent change, introducing product-specific safety-testing for tampons, as well as clear ingredient labelling.

Whilst tampons are used by millions every month, many are unaware that their manufacture is still unregulated. A 2024 study from UC Berkeley found traces of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium in some tampons, whilst a study by Women's Environmental Network highlighted the presence of pesticides, including glyphosate. Glyphosate is a prominent weed killer, classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" by WHO.

TOTM's e-petition, launched in unity with other period care brands, has just 2,500 signatures remaining until the government is required to respond. If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the issue will be taken to Parliament and debated.

Vic Fytche-Crossman, Global Health and Education Lead at TOTM, said: "Transparency, safety, and regulation in period care shouldn't be up for debate, but that's where we find ourselves. It's astounding that so many everyday household items and cosmetics like lipsticks undergo such rigorous testing, yet a product designed for internal use does not.

"Advocating for positive change in menstrual health policy is integral to what we do at TOTM, so this International Women's Day, we're calling time on unregulated period care. The government must take menstrual health more seriously and act with urgency to introduce the necessary safety testing. With only a few weeks to go before our petition closes, just 2,000 more signatures will mean the government must respond, and we're one step closer to impactful, long-term change."