An Inclusive Litany

6/10/96

The European Union has released 50 pages of regulations to harmonize inter-European standards for condoms. They include instructions for opening a condom package: "Move the condom inside the package such that it is away from the area where the package is to be torn. Tear the package and remove the condom.... Unroll the condom ensuring that it is not excessively stretched in any direction."

Diagrams illustrate how condoms are to be tested for durability and strength, as follows:

Most of the prose details inspection procedures, which must be conducted "visually under normal or corrected vision": "Each lot shall be sampled in accordance with ISO 2859-1 general inspection level I, but utilizing a minimum sample size and corresponding acceptance/rejection numbers equivalent to sample size code letter M." Furthermore, the air-flow calibration test is to be conducted with "a volume flow rate at ambient temperature and pressure (Q) in cubic decimetres per second as follows":