Welcome to Health and Environment Alliance Newsletter, May 2007

The new EU chemicals policy REACH comes into force today (1 June 2007). Health, environmental, women’s and consumer groups believe that it is far too early to celebrate (read the NGO media advisory and letter to Commissioners). REACH has flaws and loopholes and is vulnerable to further weakening if future internal reviews by the new European Chemicals Agency and others are not diligent in protecting health. If you want to learn more, read the Chemical Reaction publication “My voice - How You Can Demand Better Protection of Human Health and the Environment from Hazardous Chemicals” and please send any specific recommendations for European Governments on children’s health and chemicals to info@env-health.org as a contribution to the WHO Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan mid-term review taking place in Vienna, 13-15 June. Some useful recommendations from the scientific community have been formulated in the Faroe Islands (between Scotland, Norway and Iceland) entitled “The Faroes Statement: Human Health Effects of Developmental Exposure to Environmental Toxicants”, which will be presented to governments in Vienna.

In April, the IPCC report on Climate Change “Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability” concluded that climate change is definitely happening and has already affected health. It highlighted the fact that the projected climate change-related exposures are likely to affect the health status of millions of people in all regions in the world, and that adaptive capacity needs to be improved everywhere. It is clear that education, health system development, access to information as well as the review, development or adjustments of public health activities are necessary now. At the DG SANCO Working Party on Health and Environment on 24 May, the European Commission announced a Green Paper on European Climate Change Adaptation policy due out on 20 June, and a Communication on Climate Change and Health, which should be available for consultation this summer.

After the Green 10’s Mid Term Review of the Barroso Commission entitled “Could Try Harder” in April, the European Commission has published its mid-term review of the 6th Environmental Action Programme. On environment and health, the Commission has admitted to some extent that they “could try harder” and they highlight how they hope to achieve this. More specifically, in 2007, the Commission will:
 help with REACH implementation and contribute to preparation of the EU Chemicals Agency;
 present a mid-term review of the Environment and Health Action Plan in Vienna;
 present a new proposal to revise the National Emission Ceilings Directive and review existing legislation on industrial emissions. A Community Implementation Plan on Persistent Organic Pollutants will also be presented;
 pursue a binding international agreement within the UNEP framework on further international action to restrict mercury.