Yesterday CHEM Trust sent a letter to the President of the EU Commission calling on her to support the rapid publication of the revision of the EU's chemical safety law, REACH. This is the text of the letter we sent: … [Read more...] about CHEM Trust calls on President von der Leyen to support rapid publication of the REACH revision
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EU pledge for toxic-free products at risk, as shown by internal Commission documents
Today marks 1,000 days since the European Commission made a pledge in its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability to ban the most harmful chemicals from all consumer products, through a revision of the EU’s chemicals safety law, REACH. The revision was promised for the end of 2022, but EU Commissioners decided to delay it after lobbying from the German chemicals industry. This … [Read more...] about EU pledge for toxic-free products at risk, as shown by internal Commission documents
How is the UK Government planning to tackle exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals?
At the end of March, rules to introduce new hazard classes for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances in the EU were published. This is a very important milestone towards much better protection from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as it also includes a new category of suspected endocrine disruptors. Until recently it has been unclear what action the … [Read more...] about How is the UK Government planning to tackle exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals?
The UK’s plans for tackling PFAS pollution – are they good enough?
On 4th April 2023, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published the long awaited PFAS Risk Management Option Analysis (RMOA) written in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA). The RMOA makes a number of recommendations that the UK Government will follow as announced in its Plan For Water published on the same day. … [Read more...] about The UK’s plans for tackling PFAS pollution – are they good enough?
New hazard classes for endocrine disruptors and persistent and mobile chemicals: an important milestone
Last Friday rules to introduce new hazard classes for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances in the EU were finally published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It lays out newly established criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting properties of substances for the use across sectors. This is a world first. The delegated act, which amends … [Read more...] about New hazard classes for endocrine disruptors and persistent and mobile chemicals: an important milestone
Waiting longer for a reformed REACH is damaging health, environment and business
CHEM Trust and EEB have today published a report, "Waiting for REACH: The negative impacts of delaying reform of EU chemical laws" which examines the impacts of the European Commission's continued delay in publishing its proposal for improving Europe's key law on chemical safety, REACH. On 14th October 2020, the Commission published its "Chemicals Strategy for … [Read more...] about Waiting longer for a reformed REACH is damaging health, environment and business
Interview with the Dutch NGO Tegengif: small dose, high impact
To celebrate International Women's Day 2023 CHEM Trust spoke with Annelies den Boer, the founder of the five-year-old Dutch organisation Tegengif; which means 'antidote' in Dutch. Annelies comes from the field of health protection advocacy and for several years worked with Doctors Without Borders. Together with volunteers and freelancers, she runs the operations of … [Read more...] about Interview with the Dutch NGO Tegengif: small dose, high impact
Chemical safety testing as part of a stronger REACH, protecting health & environment, promoting alternative methods
Chemicals are an indispensable part of our daily life; some are harmless, while many may have harmful effects. But how do we properly assess whether chemicals are harmful or not? We need to assess how toxic a chemical may be, but also what its behaviour is in the environment - does it accumulate in organisms, including in our bodies? Does it stick around in the environment? … [Read more...] about Chemical safety testing as part of a stronger REACH, protecting health & environment, promoting alternative methods
Restriction for BPA and bisphenols of similar concern: small steps forward, but the piecemeal approach continues
CHEM Trust has raised the alarm about the endocrine (hormone) disrupting properties of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) for many years, highlighting that it is found in people and the environment. Unfortunately BPA is still in widespread use, as it is only banned in the EU in a few products such as baby bottles and thermal paper. But what is equally concerning is the increase in … [Read more...] about Restriction for BPA and bisphenols of similar concern: small steps forward, but the piecemeal approach continues
Has the EU’s toxic-free environment goal become a victim of Putin’s war?
2023 will be a decisive year for the future of the EU's chemicals policy. The Commission has been working hard for over two years to reform the policy centrepiece, REACH, and make it fit to deliver the Green Deal’s toxic-free objective. But we are still awaiting the results. There is little time left before MEPs wind down their legislative work ahead of the … [Read more...] about Has the EU’s toxic-free environment goal become a victim of Putin’s war?
