It is clear that some very powerful forces within the European Commission are working to undermine effective regulation of hormone (endocrine) disrupting chemicals (EDCs). On 20th December 2016, buried in the pre-Christmas wind-down, the Commission released its review of how EDCs should be treated by the authorisation process in the EU’s main REACH chemicals legislation. [...]
EDC
We are all exposed to hundreds of man-made chemicals in our daily life, coming from everyday products including furniture, packaging and clothes. The aim of chemicals regulation is to try and establish which of these chemicals are dangerous, and then to put in place measures to ensure that they are used safely, or not used [...]
The long process of establishing EU criteria to identify hormone (endocrine) disrupting chemicals (EDCs) continues to stutter forward, with a new proposed texts from the European Commission. These texts, coming just a few weeks since the last texts, fail to address our concerns regarding the burden of proof needed, and introduce a whole new loophole which [...]
Nearly 100 leading scientists from universities and research institutes around the world have joined forces to underline the urgent need for action on climate change and hormone (endocrine) disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In a commentary, ‘Let’s stop the manipulation of science‘, (also available in French), published by Le Monde last week, they warn that vested interests are wilfully distorting the [...]
The long saga of Europe’s process to agree criteria to identify endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals (EDCS) has reached a new stage, with the European Commission publishing revised draft criteria, following extensive criticism of their previous draft. These draft criteria will be discussed today (Friday 18th November) by experts from EU countries. Unfortunately this new draft retains [...]
We spend up to 90% of our time indoors – in our homes, our offices or at school. However, studies show that indoor air can be more polluted and therefore worse for our health than air outdoors, as indoor air and dust can contain a number of worrying harmful chemical pollutants. Children, particularly babies and toddlers playing on floors, [...]
The European Commission is currently consulting on its proposed criteria to identify endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In mid-June the European Commission proposed draft criteria, which CHEM Trust has strongly criticised for not adequately dealing with the threat to health and the environment from EDCs. The proposals have also been criticised by EU governments, scientists and by the [...]
MEPs on the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee have this morning voted to strengthen their draft report on the regulation of Food Contact Materials. They are calling for the European Commission to create new regulations to ensure that people’s health is protected from chemicals in paper and board packaging, and for particularly problematic chemicals [...]
The European Commission has finally presented its long delayed criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) today. CHEM Trust is shocked by the proposal, which in effect means that there must almost certainly be harm to humans before a chemical can be identified as human EDC. The Commission proposes a very scientifically demanding wording for identification of EDCs, calling for evidence [...]
New research, published today finds that people in the US who eat more fast food have higher levels of certain phthalate chemicals in their urine. The chemicals found, DEHP and DINP, are used as plasticisers in PVC plastics, and their use is partially restricted in Europe due to health concerns; they are also hormone (endocrine) disrupters. [...]
