The Danish proposal to authorise growth regulators on the condition that they are labelled and assessed as endocrine disruptors obtained less support then we had suggested (see EUROPE 11767).
A third source close the dossier informed us that contrary to what we were asserting, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom did not provide their support to this proposal during the experts’ meeting on biocides on 7 April. In total, eight countries (considered as being rather supportive of a total ban on endocrine disruptors) supported the Danish compromise: Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Norway, France, Spain and Finland.
It should be pointed out that the European Union is currently looking at new criteria to help define active substances contained in pesticides and biocides that impact on the endocrine system. The proposals take the shape of four different texts: a draft regulation on pesticides and a delegated act on biocides, with each text being divided into two to isolate the derogation criteria. The draft regulation is the only one that requires the support of a majority of member states before it can be formally proposed by the Commission.
So far, no new meeting has yet been announced. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)