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?
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
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?
What’s the plan for managing harmful chemicals in the UK?
Before the turmoil in British politics of the last couple of months, NGOs had hoped a draft UK Chemicals Strategy would be published for public consultation before the end of the year. A strategy was first promised over four years ago - to set out the UK’s approach, post-Brexit, to ensuring chemicals are safely used and managed. Over the past year stakeholders have been … [Read more...] about What’s the plan for managing harmful chemicals in the UK?
Commission moves forward on new hazard classes for endocrine disruptors and persistent and mobile chemicals
Last week CHEM Trust submitted their comments to the Europe Commissions’ public consultation on the proposals to introduce new hazard classes for identifying harmful chemicals. These amendments to the EU’s Regulation for the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) are an essential part of the European Green Deal and commitments made in the EU … [Read more...] about Commission moves forward on new hazard classes for endocrine disruptors and persistent and mobile chemicals
Chemical pollution: EU Commission casts doubt over future of a toxic-free Green Deal due to German industry pressure
It is being reported that the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will decide, in a meeting on Tuesday, to delay the planned publication of a revised EU chemicals law REACH from early 2023 to the end of 2023, and to refocus it on German industry concerns, casting doubt on the future of the European Green Deal’s toxic free agenda. By publishing the proposal so … [Read more...] about Chemical pollution: EU Commission casts doubt over future of a toxic-free Green Deal due to German industry pressure