Brussels, 23/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - The work launched by the European Commission to define the identification criteria for endocrine disruptors (as part of the EU's regulations on pesticides and biocides) is causing concern at the WTO.
During the last WTO committee meeting on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (14-16 October), many WTO member countries said they feared the EU's application of strict criteria for identifying endocrine disruptors (chemical substances that can interfere with the human hormone system) might end up with a ban on the export of agricultural goods to the European market.
While affirming their support to the EU's policy for health and environmental protection, Argentina and the USA believe that the EU's approach for identifying endocrine disruptors could have harmful consequences for trade. Their concern is shared by a number of other WTO member countries - Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Sierra Leone and Vietnam.
The EU said a report has been sent to the WTO on the public consultation on this subject that was conducted in France (see EUROPE 11366). It also said it would keep the committee informed of future developments. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)