On April 24, 2020, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) published a resolution on the 2020 work program of the European Commission advocating against safe thresholds for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and calling for a ban on bisphenols and phthalates in food contact materials (FCMs). In a set of statements specifically commenting on the European Green Deal announced in December 2019 (FPF reported), the CoR wrote that it “reiterates its call to apply the principle of ‘no safe threshold for exposure’ to all endocrine disrupting chemicals across the full spectrum of EU laws, and requests a ban on bisphenols and phthalates in all food contact materials.”
The committee has been active in pressuring the European Commission (EC) to develop a strategy to manage EDCs, including an earlier opinion it published in November 2019. Recent surveys completed by the EC have found that the majority of both stakeholders (FPF reported) and citizens (FPF reported) believe that current legislation is not protecting human health and the environment from EDCs. In April 2020, the CoR also announced a public consultation to inform its upcoming opinion on the EU Circular Economy Action Plan (FPF reported).
The CoR is made up of representatives from local and regional government authorities across all EU member states, and it provides input during the development of EU laws regarding how they affect regions and cities.
Read more
Chemical Watch (May 5, 2020). “Advisory body pushes EU Commission for better controls on hazardous chemicals.”
Reference
Official Journal of the European Union (April 29, 2020). “Resolution of the European Committee of the Regions on the 2020 Work programme of the European Commission (2020/C 141/03).”
