Condom standards

Executive Summary

International standards to establish performance requirements for synthetic condoms may take another two to three years to establish, International Organization for Standardization says. Synthetic condoms working group was expected to issue draft standards at its July annual meeting in Malaysia, but was unable to reach a consensus. Watchdog group Consumers International asserts synthetic condoms, "some of which appear to break more often than traditional condoms," should undergo clinical trials to verify how often they break in use. Furthermore, "until the effectiveness and safety of these products is clear," CI recommends they be relabeled "'for use by latex-allergic people only.'" ISO now anticipates completion of draft standards in 2003...