The European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen today launched a "European Green Deal", which includes a plan to produce a new "Chemicals strategy for sustainability" by June 2020. The Green Deal states that this strategy will include action on a number of CHEM Trust's priorities, including Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, combination (mixture) effects and very persistent … [Read more...] about European Commission launches “European Green Deal”, stepping up action on chemicals
REACH
Regulating chemicals: is putting a price on health impacts unrealistic and misleading?
If a chemical threatens health or the environment, shouldn't it just be replaced by safer alternatives? Or should regulators try to calculate a 'cost' for this harm to health or the environment (e.g. the cost of someone getting breast cancer), and then compare this with any costs involved in replacing the chemical? You may think it strange, but this is what often really happens … [Read more...] about Regulating chemicals: is putting a price on health impacts unrealistic and misleading?
Action on ‘GenX’: Another ‘forever chemical’ added to the EU list of substances of very high concern
In June this year, EU Government experts voted unanimously in favour of adding GenX chemicals1 (a small group of fluorinated chemicals) to the EU list of substances of very high concern (SHVC), which is a first step in increasing regulatory controls over them. CHEM Trust submitted comments supporting this recommendation, due to our concerns about their probable serious … [Read more...] about Action on ‘GenX’: Another ‘forever chemical’ added to the EU list of substances of very high concern
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 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’