In December 2019, the European Commission launched a “European Green Deal” as a response to climate and environmental-related challenges defining our generation. The European Commission has started consulting on the roadmap of some of the strategies listed in the green deal, including the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy. This week CHEM Trust submitted comments to the European … [Read more...] about Chemical pollution, a key driver of the biodiversity crisis
Pesticides
Brexit: UK Government commits to not ‘undermine’ public participation and stakeholder involvement in chemical laws
On 4th June CHEM Trust's lawyers Leigh Day sent a legal letter to the UK Government, arguing that their proposed post-Brexit rules for chemicals and pesticides were not a proper reflection of the EU laws they were supposed to be copying. These laws would enter into force in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Since this letter, the Government re-drafted the pesticides rules, … [Read more...] about Brexit: UK Government commits to not ‘undermine’ public participation and stakeholder involvement in chemical laws
UK Government must act now to protect UK seas from chemical pollution
Last week CHEM Trust submitted a response to the UK Government’s consultation on their revised UK Marine Strategy Part 1. The response details our concerns that the strategy provides a limited and misleading assessment of hazardous chemicals in UK marine waters. The problem of Marine pollution Numerous hazardous, man-made chemicals contaminate the marine environment … [Read more...] about UK Government must act now to protect UK seas from chemical pollution
UK Government U-turns on deletion of ban on hormone disrupting pesticides, claims it was a ‘drafting error’
Following a legal letter from Leigh Day on behalf of CHEM Trust, the UK Government have announced today that they will re-instate a ban on pesticides with endocrine (hormone) disrupting properties in their no-deal Brexit laws. The Government are claiming this is a drafting error, yet this European ban on endocrine disrupting pesticides has been a major focus of lobbying from … [Read more...] about UK Government U-turns on deletion of ban on hormone disrupting pesticides, claims it was a ‘drafting error’
CHEM Trust challenges UK Government on Brexit pesticides plans
The UK Government has claimed that it would not weaken EU environmental laws when transferring them into UK law in the event of a no-deal Brexit, with Secretary of State Michael Gove stating that "We will deliver a Green Brexit, where environmental standards are not only maintained but enhanced". However, CHEM Trust's analysis is that this pledge has been broken, and instead … [Read more...] about CHEM Trust challenges UK Government on Brexit pesticides plans
Will the EU finally start identifying endocrine disrupting biocides and pesticides or will exposure continue?
Last week another milestone was reached in Europe`s slow and ineffective process to protect our health and environment by reducing exposures to pesticides and biocides with harmful endocrine disrupting (ED) properties. On January 31st a public consultation on the draft guidance document for identifying endocrine disrupters closed. This guidance is important because describes … [Read more...] about Will the EU finally start identifying endocrine disrupting biocides and pesticides or will exposure continue?
Identifying EDCs: EU Government experts adopt flawed criteria
After years of delays, debates and continued exposure of people and wildlife to chemicals with hormone disrupting properties (EDCs), experts from EU governments voted this morning to support the latest Commission proposal defining criteria for identifying endocrine disrupters. In CHEM Trust's view the criteria will not properly protect public health and the environment, as … [Read more...] about Identifying EDCs: EU Government experts adopt flawed criteria
Brexit Risk Tracker highlights concerns about protection of our health & environment from hazardous chemicals
On Friday 23rd June, a year after the UK's referendum on membership of the EU, the Greener UK coalition - of which CHEM Trust is a member - published their first 'Brexit Risk Tracker'. Most of the UK's environmental protection rules are based on laws that have been agreed at EU level, so by leaving the EU, the UK risks losing these protections. The Risk Tracker, assembled by a … [Read more...] about Brexit Risk Tracker highlights concerns about protection of our health & environment from hazardous chemicals
Still not protective of public health: Commission revises its criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
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 … [Read more...] about Still not protective of public health: Commission revises its criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
Is the EU Commission trying to allow continued use of harmful pesticides by misinterpreting an exemption?
Europe's pesticide regulations aim to ensure a high level of protection of human, animal and environment health. An important part of the law is that certain harmful pesticides, including those that cause cancer or are endocrine disrupters (disrupt hormones, EDCs), cannot be approved unless there is 'negligible exposure' of people and the environment to them under realistic … [Read more...] about Is the EU Commission trying to allow continued use of harmful pesticides by misinterpreting an exemption?
