Press release: HEAL, together with the EDC-Free Europe coalition, is calling on future EU leaders to protect health and the environment from health-harming endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The coalition shared its priorities for the upcoming policy mandate at an event at the European Parliament.
In the final plenary session of the European Parliament before the EU elections, MEPs have adopted a Resolution on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and are calling on the Commission to swiftly take all necessary action to ensure human health and the environment are protected against these harmful chemicals [1].
This vote comes in response to the proposed Commission framework on EDCs, which has been criticized for failing to lay down specific actions [2].
With this Resolution, supported by a large cross-party majority, MEPs are raising the alarm about the urgent need to respond to the large body of scientific evidence demonstrating the potential damage EDCs can have on people and the environment [3]. It sets out priorities for timely action on EDCs and instructions for the next European Commission coming in office later this year.
The Resolution outlines that there is “no valid reason to postpone effective regulation” and calls in particular on the Commission to come forward with a concrete action plan and legislative proposals to remove endocrine disruptors from cosmetics, toys and food packaging by June 2020.
“Today we celebrate the landslide vote by the European Parliament to ramp up EU’s efforts to reduce our daily exposure to endocrine disruptors and prevent serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes or infertility. The resolution is another public health alert in response to growing concerns about toxic chemicals from people all over Europe” says Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director at the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). “The ball is now in the court of Member States and the EU Commission to show their commitment to match words with action that will truly improve the health of future generations.”
“The European Parliament has made a landmark statement and is showing that strong action against endocrine disrupting chemicals is an absolute priority,” says Sandra Jen, EDC-Free Europe’s Campaign Coordinator. “Now it is up to the European Commission to propose legislation to ensure that people’s health and our environment across Europe are protected against EDCs.”
Some EU Member States like Denmark, Belgium, France and Sweden are already taking additional national measures on EDCs, to make up for inaction at European level [4]. This only emphasizes the urgent need for a European strategy on EDCs, as all Europeans deserve the same high level of protection against toxic chemicals.
The EDC-Free Europe coalition has long been calling on the EU Commission [5], Parliament and governments to update the 1999 European strategy on EDCs. It is urgent for the EU to develop a robust action plan that provides a comprehensive framework for targets and milestones, to minimize and eventually eliminate our exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals.
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