Press Release: Commission consults the public on criteria to identify Endocrine Disruptors

The European Commission launched an on-line consultation to help define criteria for endocrine disruptors as required by the regulations on biocidal and plant protection products.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with hormone systems, which may lead to harmful effects on health and the environment. Input is sought from stakeholders and the public on various options for the criteria and for their implementation.

All citizens and organisations were invited to contribute to the consultation which was set to be open until 16 January 2015. Replies to the public consultation would, subject to confidentiality rules, be published following the closure of the consultation.

A report published on 20 May 2015 by Corporate Europe Observatory and the French journalist Stephane Horel showed how industry lobbied EU institutions to kill regulation on possible toxic chemicals used in everyday products.

ESO: Background information: EU seeks uniform regulation of hormonally active substances http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-seeks-uniform-regulation-of-hormonally-active-substances/

EurActiv, 16.01.15: Health NGO: 'Endocrine disruptors are one of the biggest public health threats of this century' http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/health-ngo-endocrine-disruptors-are-one-biggest-public-health-threats

EurActiv, 16.01.15: Pesticides industry chief: Commission should move faster on endocrine disruptors http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-food/pesticides-industry-chief-commission-should-move-faster-endocrine

The Guardian, 02.02.15: 'Suppressed' EU report could have banned pesticides worth billions http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/02/suppressed-eu-report-could-have-banned-pesticides-worth-billions

Corporate Europe Observatory: A toxic affair - How the chemical lobby blocked action on hormone disrupting chemicals http://corporateeurope.org/sites/default/files/toxic_lobby_edc.pdf

EUObserver, 20.05.15: Industry delayed EU regulation of toxic chemicals https://euobserver.com/institutional/128768

EurActiv, 21.05.15: Commission, chemicals lobby deny delaying tactics over hormone disruptors http://www.euractiv.com/sections/science-policymaking/commission-chemicals-lobby-deny-delaying-tactics-over-hormone

EurActiv, 01.06.15: EU health chief rejects 'conspiracy theories' on hormone-affecting chemicals http://www.euractiv.com/sections/science-policymaking/eu-health-chief-rejects-conspiracy-theories-hormone-affected-chemicals

---