In our initial comments on the new Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, our Executive Director Michael Warhurst said today:
“CHEM Trust welcomes the European Commission’s new Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, published today, however it is important that the new commitments in the strategy are rapidly transformed into action in the real world.
This strategy has the potential to set Europe on a new path for better protection from toxic chemicals, while steering companies to detoxify their supply chains. It contains many important elements including a horizontal approach for the identification and control of endocrine disruptors. This includes a promise to bring in provisions to ensure that consumer products do not contain endocrine disruptors and other harmful chemicals. It is very welcome that the Commission also commits to introduce the same level of protection for food contact materials, an area where regulation is outdated and full of holes.
We welcome the commitment to investigate increasing controls on chemicals in consumer products that negatively affect the immune or neurological systems. As we pointed out in our ’No Brainer’ report in 2017, there is extensive evidence that chemicals disrupt neurological development. And the persistent and polluting PFAS are just one example of chemicals that can disrupt the immune system.
However, we are concerned about the risk that the planned impact assessment as part of this investigation could result in further delays in addressing these hazardous substances.”
- In July CHEM Trust published a policy proposal on a new path to protect people and wildlife across Europe from endocrine disruptors (EDs).
- See our briefing ‘PFAS the ‘Forever Chemicals’ Invisible threats from persistent chemicals’ for more information on PFAS and our recommendations for action.
- See our webpage on Food Contact Materials (FCM) for more details of our recommendations for revision of the FCM legislation.
