Condom Standards Convention 2007

Close to 100 experts, manufacturers and policy makers from about 50 different nations worldwide convened in the Jeju Island in South Korea for the 24^th convention about condom standards. The International Organization for Standardization held the summit to discuss major issues that surround the condom making industry.

There has been a need to set better and more practical standards about condoms. That is because there are about 80 manufacturers globally that collectively make and distribute about 12 billion condoms each year. In the future, it is also expected that condom production would be far more than current levels.

The condom conference was able to focus further on how manufacturers would further boost and ensure the safety and quality of the products produced. Because the market is expected to grow in the near future, the standards tribunal wants to make sure the condoms to be produced would be appropriate and would be effective in helping curtail and contain the spread of the deadly sexually transmitted diseases.

The global standards convention for condom production also tackled issues regarding size. Though, it is not much of equal importance as safety and quality, condom sizes also need further attention. That is because there is a rising number of complaints regarding condom sizes. There is a common size or standard size of condoms available in the markets. But there are complaints over condom sizes that do not fit many men. Experts said it can also be possible that breakage and tearing off would result from sizes that are too large. There is also a strong discomfort if the condom used is too tight.

The standard condom convention also discussed about proposals to reduce the quality inspection time coverage for condoms to just about three to four years, from the current five to six years. Manufacturers admitted that doing so would greatly help make sure that the quality of the condoms sold is maintained at high standards.

It may not be of great importance but if you may ask why it is South Korea that this condom convention was held, the answer is because Korean condom makers account for a larger market share for condoms globally. To date, South Korea is the top country producer of condoms, with its Hankook Latex and Dongkuk Trading accounting for a combined 30% of the world’s overall market for condoms.

Some speculations arise that South Korea has the advantage of holding the international condom convention. Sources said the country is threatened by the condom production rising from other countries like India, China and Malaysia. South Korean producers said condom produced by such competing countries are of lower quality and are less flexible and reliable than the Korean produce.

Whatever the case may be, the consumers stand to gain from this type of important condom standard convention. In the coming years, it is crucial that condoms become more reliable and flexible. That would ensure overall safety from spreading STDs like AIDS, herpes and gonorrhea. Expect condoms to further improve in quality in the future.