Chemicals and Health Policy developments- An overview of policy developments in the EU. For more details, please contact Lisette@env-health.org

The European Commission’s Directorate General on Environment has a forthcoming study on the mixtures of chemicals to which we, animals and the environment are continually exposed and what is known about ‘cocktail’ effects. This study, which examines the state of toxicological science on mixtures and how they are dealt with in EU regulations, will be published as part of the work of the European Strategy on Endocrine Disruption, which is now in its 10th year.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), following discussions and a decision in its Member State Committee, has placed 14 more chemicals on Europe’s ‘most harmful’ list: the ‘Candidate List’ of substances of very high concern. One of the chemicals is Diisobutyl phthalate. In the next months, these chemicals will be examined to see which should be prioritized to go through the strict permission process called ‘Authorisation’, and the Agency will hold a public consultation on this topic. Details on the 14 chemicals can be found here

ECHA has been tasked by the European Commission to evaluate the newest scientific evidence on phthalates. On the basis of the report, the Commission will decide whether to reexamine the existing bans of phthalates in toys and childcare articles, and whether other bans on phthalates in other articles used by children are necessary (clothing, school supplies, etc).

The European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) will discuss the proposed legislation governing the use of hazardous chemicals in electric and electronic goods (ROHS) on the 23rd February.

The EU Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) will be developing its opinion on the ‘migration limits’ set for elements such as arsenic, lead and mercury in toys in the recently revised EU Toy Directive. Limit values were set for arsenic, cadmium, chromium VI, lead, mercury and organic tin among others. DG Enterprise has requested the committee to assess whether the migration limits are set on a ‘sound scientific basis’ and are safe, whether new scientific data on Tolerable Daily Intake (TDIs) levels requires an improvement of the Toys Safety Directive. The report is expected in May 2010.

HEAL’s action on chemicals and health

HEAL in partnership with other NGOs is preparing a joint position paper on hazardous chemicals in electric and electronic goods (ROHS), which will be presented to European Parliamentarians in the Environment Committee.

Your action

The candidate list includes another 14 chemicals, including two more plasticisers. You can contact companies and ask retailers, using our ‘right to know’ model letter (8 languages), to find out which of these most harmful chemicals are in products you buy or have bought. Mor info here.

The list of most harmful chemicals is growing far too slowly, hampering your full right to know about toxics in consumer products. You can help get more chemicals regulated under REACH, and strengthen the Right to Know by urging your government to nominate harmful chemicals. Use our model letter here to contact the relevant ministry in your country (our list has details for all 27 Member States). The ministries are deciding now for the next deadline in early August, so now is a good time to contact them.

Until 19 February 2010, The European Commission is conducting a Public consultation on its Nanotechnology Action Plan 2010-2015. The consultation is very suitable for the expression of non-specialist and non-expert views. It is via a multiple choice questionnaire on an internet form that takes about 15-20 minutes, and covers benefits, risks, concerns and opinions about current governance, etc. More information here.

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