In an article published on February 9, 2017 by regulatory news provider Chemical Watch, editor Vanessa Zainzinger informs that the European Commission (EC) has published the latest revision of its proposal for criteria to identify endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the field of plant protection products and biocides on February 8, 2017. The latest version of the draft EDC criteria take into account the points discussed during the last expert meeting that was held on December 21, 2016 (FPF reported) and can be found on the website of the EC’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE). The EC’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF) will discuss and possibly vote on the revised drafts on February 28, 2017.
Zainzinger reports that several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as industry associations remain displeased with the EC’s proposal for EDC criteria. NGOs, such as the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), criticize the inclusion of a paragraph “which would exempt substances designed to act on their target organism’s hormonal system to block their moulting or growth, from being identified as EDCs,” Zainzinger explains. This means that substances intended to function as endocrine disrupting chemicals would be exempted from the criteria. The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) disagrees with the EC revoking a proposed change to the Plant Protection Products Regulation (PPPR) wording “from ‘negligible exposure’ to ‘negligible risk,’ concerning an exemption for active substances with ED [(endocrine-disrupting)] properties,” Zainzinger further writes.
In light of the upcoming expert meeting, and possible vote, on the revised draft criteria of February 28, the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM) published a declaration on EDCs on February 9, 2017. In an article published by news provider EurActiv on the same day, Christian Zahn, president of AIM highlights that “reducing exposure to EDCs will have positive effects on public health and will benefit healthcare systems and economies as a whole.” He therefore calls on the EC to “grab this chance to protect European citizens’ health and show that EU legislation is in the service of its people.”
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Vanessa Zainzinger (February 9, 2017). “Latest draft of EDC criteria raises new concerns.” Chemical Watch
Christian Zahn (February 9, 2017). “Commission must take action against endocrine disruptors.” EurActiv
Endocrine Society (February 14, 2017). “European Commission’s revised proposal limits ability to protect public from endocrine-disrupting chemicals.”
HEAL (February 20, 2017). “Leading non-profit health insurer alerts EU health ministers on EDCs.“
