In an article published on February 20, 2019, the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) informed about the launch of its European Parliament (EP) elections manifesto that “urges future co-legislators to respond to the EU’s challenges through consumer policy.”
BEUC highlights the need to ensure that “consumers . . . [are] not exposed to harmful chemicals” as one of the top five consumer issues that the new EP should focus on. This is because “chronic and severe diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, fertility problems, obesity and allergies are on the rise in the EU,” and “chemicals are believed to play a causal role in this trend,” BEUC observes.
To tackle the issue, BEUC recommends adoption of several product-specific measures and urges that “EU legislation . . . be modernized in order to account for cumulative exposure (the ‘chemical cocktail’).” Further, consumers should be provided with “accurate, easy to understand and reliable information about chemicals in the products they purchase, through clear and coherent labeling.”
Read more
BEUC (February 20, 2019). “How a new Parliament could reach out to people across Europe.”
Reference
BEUC (February 20, 2019). “Manifesto for the 2019 European elections.” (pdf)
