MOSCOW, June 19 (RAPSI) - The Eurasian Economic Commission will consider a petition to include new orthopedic requirements for shoes in the technical regulations of the Customs Union. The commission, however, doubts the decision will be positive due to existing WTO regulations, a source in the EEC told RIA Novosti.

This Thursday, Izvestia reported that popular gumshoes, ballet shoes and stiletto heels could be banned due to potential health risks. A petition was sent by State Duma member Oleg Mikheyev (A Just Russia).

“Amendments to the technical regulations have been proposed, and we will consider them. However, there would be some conflicts with the WTO rules. Actually, I’m not sure this wouldn’t go against the agreement with the World Trade Organization because it contains clear guidelines on what can be restricted on certain grounds,” the source said.

“Unlike the attempts to ban synthetic fabrics, the potential risks here are different,” the source added.

Certificates of compliance issued under the previous rules expire on July 1, 2014. The Customs Union’s new technical regulations prohibit the import, production and sale of underwear made of fabrics with a water-absorbing capacity of under 6%. The ban triggered a heated discussion in the media.

Some argued that the Customs Union would be totally deprived of lace underwear.

At the same time, Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Viktor Yevtukhov assured that synthetic underwear will not disappear from stores due to the new regulations. A review of major underwear producers indicates that most lace production complies with the water absorption requirements of the Customs Union.