Filenews 9 September 2021 - byPanagiota Charalambous
A chemical substance, Bisphenol A, contained in thermal paper widely used in retail outlets for the issue of bank card receipts poses a serious risk to workers (mainly cashiers) and in particular to pregnant workers and pregnant embryos, and to consumers who are in possession of the receipt papers in question. The matter was examined ex officio by the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Maria Stylianou Lottidis, following a complaint submitted to her office.
Specifically, a director of a private company submitted a complaint regarding the effectiveness of the controls of the Department of Labour Inspection for the termination of the circulation and marketing of proof papers with a high content of the industrial chemical substance Bisphenol A. It is noted that the complaining company has in the market thermal paper imported from the European Union and does not contain the hazardous chemical substance, a fact confirmed by a relevant audit carried out by the Department of Labour Inspection in 2019. However, according to the complaint, despite the existence of relevant legislation, other companies operating in the same sector continue to import and place on the market rolls of evidence of dubious quality. The complainant company indicated that in addition to the risk to public health due to the use and contact with the thermal paper in question, there is also an issue of unfair competition from the companies importing and placing on the market a non-compliant product, which is supplied at a lower price from third countries.
It should be stressed that the Council of Ministers, in the context of the effort to combat tax evasion, has by its decision expanded the retail sectors, which are obliged to have a payment card acceptance terminal, with the result that consumers can pay by bank card instead of cash to more businesses for the services or goods provided to them. In relation to the above, it should be noted that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the use of bank cards in transactions instead of cash has been expanded, as it was considered that the measure of contactless transactions limits the further spread of the virus. The natural consequence of this measure was the increase in the use of paper evidence.
It is noted that in the event that an unsuitable sample is found on the market, the imposition of an administrative fine or the criminal prosecution of the offender is provided for, while following a court order and after it is proved that the product is non-compliant with the provisions of the legislation, the confiscation of the unsuitable products is allowed.
The conclusions / recommendations of the Commissioner for Administration state that it is the obligation of the State to take all necessary actions and to take all appropriate measures to safeguard and protect public health, pointing out that when the persons whose health is put at risk are workers and especially people belonging to vulnerable groups, the taking of measures by the state becomes more imperative.
Therefore, for the purpose of limiting the negative effects on the health of both employees and consumers who come into contact with receipt papers containing Bisphenol A beyond the permitted limit, the Commissioner for Administration recommends:
- Intensification of the inspections of the Department of Labour Inspection, in order to allow for the early detection of the reported paper.
- Taking additional measures to enhance the efficiency of the Department of Labour Inspection, as the decision of the Council of Ministers to expand the retail sectors that are required to have a payment card acceptance terminal, will inevitably lead to an increase in the use of thermal paper.
- Incentivising owners of retail, business and service outlets to achieve adequate protection of workers and consumers by not exposing them to products that endanger their health. In this direction, the possibility of signalling shops/businesses using secure receipt paper (placement of a relevant sticker at the entrance) could be considered.
The report and the recommendations of the Commissioner for Administration were submitted to the Department of Labour Inspection and to the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance as the Competent Authority.
