Student warning over free condoms

Students have been offered free replacements

A safety warning has been issued over 1,000 free condoms handed out at a freshers' fair.

Cambridge University students have been urged not to use the contraceptives as they do not carry the BSI Kitemark, which proves independent testing.

But the debating society, which handed out the condoms earlier this month, said they carried a CE mark so met European and British requirements.

Cambridge University Student Union (CUSU) is offering free replacements.

The CUSU sent out the warning this week saying any condoms without a Kitemark should not be used.

Safe sex

The Cambridge debating society, also known as the Cambridge Union Society (CUS) distributed the contraceptives with the phrase "for a more perfect union" during one of the university's freshers' fair.

Adam Bott, president of CUS, said: "I would like to personally apologise to all members for any distress caused by Cambridge University's Student Union's misinformation.

"At the union we have no higher priority than our members' continued enjoyment of a safe and satisfying sex life."

Andrea Walko, student union welfare officer, said: "We don't want to risk anything when it comes to sexual health.

"We definitely think it's important condoms have a Kitemark."

CE marking on a product is a manufacturer's claim that it meets all the requirements of the European legislation.

A Kitemark means BSI has independently tested it and has confirmed that the product conforms to the relevant British Standard.