Progressive Enterprises supermarkets have removed Select, Homebrand and Precious Flushable Wipes baby wipes from their shelves owing to the discovery of an unsafe chemical in them.

Progressive Enterprises national communications manager Luke Schepen says Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown supermarkets withdrew these products as soon as the discovery was made.

The baby wipes contain a chemical iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC).

Products containing this chemical are banned in New Zealand.

According to Elsevier Science in America, IPBC was initially used as a water-based paint and wood preservative and then in metalworking fluids.

However, several combinations of IPBC have been used in cosmetic products and are deemed safe to use at concentrations less than 0.1 per cent.

Luke says if customers have any concerns they can bring the products to any of their stores for a full refund.

'We've withdrawn the products from sale, so it's not a public recall at this stage, but what we are doing is seeking advised from obviously EPA, The Department of Labour or the Ministry of Health and the likes, about what next steps need to be taken.”