The European Commission is preparing to present a communication entitled “Towards a more comprehensive EU framework on endocrine disruptors” on Wednesday 7 November. Nonetheless, it looks as though the document will be very disappointing.
Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances that alter the functions of the hormonal system and consequently cause adverse effects on health and the environment. Emboldened by the adoption of criteria allowing such substances to be identified in pesticides and biocides, the European Commission undertook, end 2017, to present a new strategy to “reduce European Union citizens’ exposure to endocrine disruptors as far as possible” (see EUROPE 11925).
Indicative road map
The Commission was nonetheless more cautious in its roadmap published mid-2018, speaking only of stages towards a comprehensive framework. Such stages aim, in particular, at encouraging research, facilitating communication with the public, establishing a link between science and regulation, and cooperating on the global scene through the OECD with a view to developing testing methods.
The lack of ambition is broadly criticised by some member states, especially by those who already have a national strategy: France, Denmark and Sweden. In their response to the “feedback mechanism”, the French authorities underline in particular that the roadmap “does not correspond to the commitment taken by the European Commission in its press release of 4 July 2017, and is not up the expectations of the health and environmental challenges linked to exposure to endocrine disruptors”. The Danish authorities, for their part, deplore the fact that the commitments of the 7th action programme for the environment have not been kept, such as adoption of the measures for dealing with the “cocktail effect”.
According to a well-informed source, the document of 7 November should announce more research and an assessment of the existing legislation (especially in relation to cosmetics and toys) as part of the “Better Regulation” initiative. Nonetheless, although such scrutiny may conclude that legislation is needed, it would be up to the next Commission to ensure this is so, the same source said.
Exemptions regarding criteria are dropped
Furthermore, it is necessary to underline that the Juncker Commission has dropped its intention to introduce exemptions to the identification criteria for endocrine disruptors in the event of “negligible risks”, given the lack of sufficient support from a qualified majority of member states (see EUROPE 12125). This was confirmed to us by two sources familiar with the issue. One source points out that this does not mean that the next Commission will not come up with something for discussion. In any event, the new identification criteria will take effect on Saturday 10 November (see EUROPE 12066). (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)