Yesterday the European Commission published the "Restrictions Roadmap", a new plan to restrict the use of a number of groups of chemicals, including bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS and flame retardants. The chemicals concerned all have severe hazards, including endocrine disruption, cancer-causing properties and persistence in the environment. They are routinely used in a wide … [Read more...] about New EU roadmap proposes action to ban some of the most hazardous chemicals from consumer products
REACH
Chemical Cocktails – The neglected threat of toxic mixtures and how to fix it
A new CHEM Trust report “Chemical cocktails - The neglected threat of toxic mixtures and how to fix it”, highlights the reality of our exposure to multiple chemicals, the threat it represents to our health and the wider environment and why we are not properly protected. In the report we call for urgent action from the EU to better protect people and the wider environment … [Read more...] about Chemical Cocktails – The neglected threat of toxic mixtures and how to fix it
This International Women’s Day, Dr Olwenn V Martin talks to CHEM Trust about her research on chemicals and hopes for future regulation
To celebrate women who have excelled in science, CHEM Trust sat down with Dr Olwenn V Martin, Lecturer in Global Challenges at Brunel University, London, to discuss her research on chemicals, chemical policy and hopes for future regulation. Building on an academic interdisciplinary background in Natural Sciences and Social Sciences, Dr Martin has expertise in the translation … [Read more...] about This International Women’s Day, Dr Olwenn V Martin talks to CHEM Trust about her research on chemicals and hopes for future regulation
The chemical industry cries wolf yet again on plans to improve protection from hazardous chemicals
The European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) sets out the actions needed for chemicals management in delivering the European Green Deal, a toxic-free environment and zero-pollution. All of which are priorities for the EU Commission with the aim of enhancing environmental and health protection, while setting a path towards a more sustainable chemical … [Read more...] about The chemical industry cries wolf yet again on plans to improve protection from hazardous chemicals
The EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability – one year on
We are facing a chemical pollution crisis: a cocktail of synthetic chemicals in hundreds of everyday products is putting human health and wildlife at risk. While the EU’s chemical legislation REACH is world-leading, it has been too slow in identifying and regulating the most hazardous chemicals. There are also gaps in the way that the EU regulates chemicals in some product … [Read more...] about The EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability – one year on
EU Court hearing on GenX: company Chemours challenges EU authority
Today CHEM Trust together with ClientEarth (the environmental law charity) are participating in a public hearing at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Both organisations are supporting the EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Government of the Netherlands against a challenge by the chemical company Chemours regarding the identification of their compounds, known as … [Read more...] about EU Court hearing on GenX: company Chemours challenges EU authority
Hormone disrupting chemicals may also harm children’s brains – scientists call for action
Phthalates and bisphenols are names of groups of chemicals that are becoming part of everyday language. Many people are learning that these synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be found in our bodies, and that we should avoid everyday products containing them. CHEM Trust has long been concerned about the wide variety of uses of phthalates and their presence in … [Read more...] about Hormone disrupting chemicals may also harm children’s brains – scientists call for action
EU governments support reset of EU’s chemicals policy
This week the European Commission received the unanimous backing for a rapid and ambitious delivery of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) from EU governments. CHEM Trust welcomes the Council conclusions “Sustainable Chemicals Strategy: Time to deliver”. EU Governments have approved actions that will amount to a resetting of chemicals policy, which is needed to … [Read more...] about EU governments support reset of EU’s chemicals policy
Joint NGO letter calls on UK Ministers to resist proposals to deregulate GB REACH
At the start of 2021 the UK left the EU's regulatory processes, and a new 'GB REACH' system started to operate to regulate use of chemicals. Following a push from a number of UK industry associates to deregulate this new system, a coalition of health and environmental NGOs, including CHEM Trust, have written to the UK Government calling for it to resist these unwise and unsafe … [Read more...] about Joint NGO letter calls on UK Ministers to resist proposals to deregulate GB REACH
UK industry pushing post-Brexit deregulation of chemical laws, but the Swiss model is better for everyone
Yesterday, the Financial Times reported on a joint letter from chemical and other industry associations to the Government, asking for a radical deregulation of the UK’s post-Brexit chemicals regime. Unfortunately the industry has not yet published the letter, despite this media coverage, making public scrutiny difficult, however a summary of its proposals has been tweeted out … [Read more...] about UK industry pushing post-Brexit deregulation of chemical laws, but the Swiss model is better for everyone