In an article published on June 16, 2017 the scientific organization Endocrine Society informed that it has sent a letter to the European Commission (EC) regarding the EC’s proposed criteria to identify endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) (FPF reported). The letter was also signed by the European Society for Endocrinology and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology. In their letter, the three societies express concern that the proposed criteria “will fail to identify EDCs that are currently causing human harm and will not secure a high level of health and environmental protection.” The societies further highlight that the EC’s proposal “cannot be called science-based as it contains arbitrary exemptions for chemicals specifically designed to disrupt target insect endocrine systems that have similarities in humans and wildlife.” Therefore, the societies call on EU Member States to push for improved EDC criteria and recommend the following: 1) Discard the exemption for biocides and pesticides intended to act on endocrine systems, 2) follow a science-based definition of EDCs and include categories for known EDCs and suspected EDCs, and 3) preserve a hazard-based identification system without risk-based derogations.

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Endocrine Society (June 16, 2017). “Endocrine experts united in disappointment with European Commission’s proposed criteria on EDCs.

Chemical Watch (June 22, 2017). “Endocrine societies speak out against proposed EDC criteria.

HEAL (June 29, 2017). “Endocrine experts united in disappointment with EU Commission’s proposed criteria on EDCs.

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