Health and Environment Alliance | Letters: Toxic Chemicals

Joint letter calling for an ECHA mandate to restrict aromatic brominated flame retardants

27th March 2025

HEAL, together with Arnika, Cancer Prevention and Education Society, CHEM Trust, ChemSec, ClientEarth, EEB, Fidra, and Zero Waste Europe have sent a letter calling on the EuropeanCommission to swiftly give a mandate to ECHA to prepare a restriction dossier for aromatic brominated flame retardants based on their recent investigation report which concludes that these substances pose a high burden to the environment.

Toxic-free toys for European children!

14th March 2025

HEAL, alongside other organisations, are calling for on Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, to commit to revise the Toy Safety law in the European public interest and protect Europe’s children from the most harmful chemicals in toys.

The next EU budget: Strengthening financing for zero pollution, climate resilience and disease prevention

5th March 2025

In the coming months, EU institutions will negotiate the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the EU’s long-term budget, usually covering a seven-year period. It details the public spending for different areas of EU policies, including environment and climate action.

Calling for the most ambitious children’s health protection in revision of EU Toy Safety Regulation

5th February 2025

HEAL has sent a letter to EU member states Permanent Representatives regarding the ongoing negotiations between the Council, Parliament and Commission on the revision of the EU Toy Safety Regulation.

Joint letter to EU Commission President Von der Leyen: It’s time to end “the worst pollution crisis in human history”: Ban PFAS

22nd January 2025

More than 90 organisations have written to EU Commission President Von der Leyen regarding the PFAS pollution crisis.

Joint letter to members of REACH committee on implementation of restriction agenda

12th December 2024

The undersigned organisations urge the REACH committee to advocate for accelerating the implementation of the restriction agenda, which is crucial for the timely phase-out of the most harmful chemicals within the EU and support the progressive industry.

Joint letter to EU Commission President: Support for the PFAS restriction proposal at EU level

5th December 2024

Scientists and civil society organisations have sent a letter to EU Commission President Von der Leyen asking her to support an undisturbed continuation of the evaluation of the universal PFAS restriction proposal in its unchanged form, so that a significant and timely reduction in PFAS emissions can be achieved.

Letter to EU Commission President: Safety of food contact materials: 20 years of inaction on EU’s basic rules

4th December 2024

The letter, signed by more than 50 organisations, expresses concern about the current state of the EU Food Contact Materials Regulation revision (EC 1935/2004) due to its significant delay.

Joint letter to ministers of health on shaping a comprehensive global plastics treaty

22nd November 2024

Leading up to the fifth and final round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty that will take place 25 November - 1 December 2024, in Busan, South Korea, HEAL together with Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe wrote to all European health ministers highlighting the urgent need to address the severe health and environmental impacts of plastics, including in the healthcare sector.

CSO statement: The EU Commission must provide guarantees on climate, nature and public health

4th November 2024

Together with 180+ organisations, HEAL cal on the EU Commission to provide guarantees on climate, nature and public health, ensuring the protection of people.

Joint open letter from the representatives of civil society and the environment on the Draghi Report considerations regarding chemicals

14th October 2024

A group of civil society organisations has written to EU Environment Ministers and European Commission President Von der Leyen as well Commissioner-designates Ribera Rodriguez, Séjourné, and Roswall to express serious concerns…

Letter to EU environment ministers – uphold commitment to health protection objectives in Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability

4th October 2024

HEAL has sent a letter to permanent representations of EU member states and EU environment ministers today, calling on their support and leadership to ensure that previous commitments made for a high level of health and environment protection will remain at the heart of the 2024-2029 EU Commission mandate, including delivering on the health protective measures promised in the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) and the revision of REACH with no further delay.

Letter to the President of the European Commission on protecting people’s health against climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss

1st August 2024

HEAL calls on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to commit to protecting people’s health from the triple crisis during her second term in a letter. HEAL urges her to safeguard and strengthen the EU climate and environmental acquis for better health, and accelerate on the zero pollution path, including for the foreseen reform of the EU chemicals law REACH.

Green 10 letter to the President of the European Parliament calling to address the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergency

26th July 2024

The Green 10 coalition, which HEAL is a part of, encourages the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola upon her re-election to put the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergency at the forefront of her tenure.

Green 10 letter to the President of the European Commission on upholding and scaling up Green Deal commitments

26th July 2024

The Green 10 coalition, which HEAL is a part of, encourages the EU Commission President to prioritize and scale up the Green Deal commitments towards zero pollution, thriving nature and health.

Letter: Civil society groups call on UNEP and the WHO to protect scientific integrity of scientific report on endocrine disruptors

17th July 2024

A number of NGOs sent a letter to UNEP and the WHO calling for a strict policy on conflicts of interest in the update process for the state-of-the-science report on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

Letter: Protecting people’s health against climate, environmental threats and reducing health economic cost

16th July 2024

HEAL has sent a letter to Members of the European Parliament urging them to commit to protecting health against climate, environmental threats in the next five years, in their positions on legislative proposals as well as in all budgetary and financial decisions.

Letter: Keep health in the scope of the EP’s ENVI Committee

1st July 2024

In a letter, HEAL urges Members of the European Parliament to keep the current scope of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) to protect health against the triple crises of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

EU strategic agenda: Tackling pollution for healthy people, and a strong and secure Europe

25th June 2024

In a letter, HEAL urges EU Heads of State to include measures to tackle pollution for people’s health in their blueprint for the next five years of EU policymaking.

Open letter to European Parliament group leaders by the Green 10

18th June 2024

The Green 10, the coalition of ten of the largest environmental organisations and networks active on the European level including HEAL, has sent a letter to European Parliament group leaders, making an urgent appeal to continue to prioritise a green and just transition towards climate neutrality, zero pollution and thriving nature, as political groups in the Parliament are holding talks over future priorities and consider their approval of a European Commission President.