Dutch inspectorate warns against certain condoms after EU-wide recall

The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) has warned consumers not to use a certain brand of condoms as there is a higher risk of the latex tearing or bursting during sex. The warning was issued after French authorities ordered the recall of approximately 7 million condoms across the European Union, NOS reports.

The recall, which goes for condoms manufactured by Malaysian company Richter Rubber Technology, was announced on Friday. The recall concerns 15 product references involving ultrathin latex condoms sold under several different brands.

The French consumer protection agency RappelConso warned that the defective condoms could increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies because they may tear or fail to provide adequate protection. Consumers who purchased the affected products were advised to stop using them immediately and return them to the retailer.

"For now, we are following the advice of our colleagues in France, also given the large quantities involved,” the IGJ said to NOS. When asked how many of the condoms were sold in the Netherlands, the IGJ spokesperson was unable to give a clear answer. "That is quite complicated, because they are mainly offered online. If in doubt, the inspectorate advises consumers to contact the retailer where they purchased the condoms.” It added that it has not received any reports from within the Netherlands regarding faulty condoms.

“If you have used non-compliant condoms, it is recommended that you go to a medical testing laboratory to be screened for sexually transmitted infections, and to take a pregnancy test if your period is late,” Rappel wrote in the alert accompanying each condom brand subject to the recall. Personal questions should be directed to the individual’s own physician, while issues like broken or punctured condoms should be reported to a government agency.

The recall concerns 15 product references involving ultrathin latex condoms sold under several different brands. The French authorities explicitly instruct consumers to return the products. The Dutch IGJ's advice, as reported by NOS on November 3, is to stop using the affected condoms and contact the retailer if in doubt.

The French investigation traced the problem to a particular manufacturing method involving the manual addition of ammonia water to a latex mixture.