HEAL response to the Beating Cancer Plan roadmap
On 4 February 2020, the European Commission launched an EU-wide public consultation on Europe's Beating Cancer Plan running for 12 weeks as well as a consultation on the roadmap for…
International scientists sound alarm bell over harmful chemicals coming in contact with our food
An international group of 33 world-renowned scientists published today a peer-reviewed consensus statement on the impact of food contact chemicals on human health and recommended improvements of the assessment of chemicals in a health-protective way. Civil society groups from Europe, the U.S. and Asia have issued a declaration of concern in response to this consensus statement, calling on regulators to upgrade regulatory frameworks in order to protect public health while ensuring a transition away from single-use towards safe and reusable food packaging..
Joint letter to members of the Environment Council of the European Union on air quality action in 2020
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), together with the European Federation of Allergy & Airways Diseases Patients´ Association (EFA), the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), the European Respiratory Society (ERS)…
Environment Ministers have to show commitment to EU action on air quality in 2020
In the upcoming Council Conclusions on Air Quality, we call on Environment Ministers to: Reflect the urgency to act on air pollution for health protection: the positive effects of this Green Deal need to be breathable by the end of the current EU Commission’ mandate.
Translate the urgency into action by paving the way forward: the EU Green Deal ambition needs to take the shape of clear steps for clean air in 2020, with a view to aligning the EU air standards with the WHO guidelines.
MEPs block EU Commission proposal that would allow toxic lead in recycled PVC
Members of the European Parliament today objected to a European Commission proposal to allow lead-contaminated recycled PVC to be sold in the EU. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), ClientEarth and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) have applauded MEPs for using their power of scrutiny in order to ask the European Commission to walk the talk and keep toxics out of the circular economy, a promise outlined in the European Green Deal.
The “forever chemicals” that are harming our health: PFAS
You may not recognize the name PFAS, short for per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, yet it is likely you come in contact with this toxic chemical on a daily basis. From frying pans and cosmetics to paper food packaging and clothing, PFAS is a class of more than 4,700 widely-used, man-made chemicals. And they are putting our health and the environment at serious risk.
Forever chemicals no more: Belgian premiere of Hollywood movie “Dark Waters” highlights reality of PFAS pollution and the urgency to address it through ambitious regulation
Award-winning actor Mark Ruffalo and director Todd Haynes are visiting the European Parliament this Wednesday (5 February) to present the film ‘Dark Waters’, inspired by the true story of an environmental attorney who took on the DuPont company in an environmental suit exposing decades of pollution of drinking water with PFAS. The movie shows the harsh consequences of chemicals pollution, which is a reality in the EU too, and should urgently be addressed as a chemical priority under the European Green Deal.
Environmental health groups celebrate end to EU allowance for banned flame retardant chemicals to enter recycling streams & new products
The European Union (EU) just took an important step towards cleaning up its recycling; it will no longer allow materials containing a class of toxic and globally banned flame retardants - known as PBDEs - to be recycled.
Environmental health priorities for Croatia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union
Croatia holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2020. In a letter to Croatia's prime minister Andrej Plenkovic, HEAL shared its priorities on how we consider the Presidency can help advance the protection of health from environment and climate threats in the next months, particularly regarding the EU Green Deal proposal.
Why HEAL supports the European Citizens’ Initiative “Save Bees and Farmers”
HEAL is a supporting organisation of the European Citizens’ Initiative “Save Bees and Farmers”, that launched in November 2019 with a vision of a pesticide-free Europe. Take a few minutes to sign the petition, available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish!
Transition to a toxic-free circular economy in the carpet industry still a distant reality, despite industry initiative
Transition to a toxic-free circular economy in the carpet industry still a distant reality, despite industry initiative – European Commission needs to set up EPR scheme as part of the…
Turkish Health Professionals call for Better Air Pollution Monitoring and Legislation
In Turkey as in the whole of Europe, air pollution is the top environmental threat to health. However the country is lagging behind on clean air standards and monitoring of…
Joint letter calling concrete clean air steps in European Commission’s 2020 Work Programme
HEAL, together with 7 other health and environmental civil society organisations has today sent a letter to Executive Vice-Presidents Timmermans and Dombrovskis, and Commissioner Sinkevičius, to call on them to…
Another “forever chemical” – PFBS – added to Europe’s list of substances of very high concern
The European Chemicals Agency has recognised Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid, PFBS (and its salts) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) [1]. PFBS is part of the large group of…
Stepping up Dutch climate action for a healthy future for our children
The Dutch government has been appealing the Urgenda verdict for 4 years - it should recognise that accepting and executing it will be a blessing, writes HEAL President Peter van den Hazel.
Open letter on the Farm to Fork strategy to achieve sustainable food systems
People in the EU have made unprecedented calls for change throughout 2019, demanding climate action, environmental protection, improved animal welfare and social justice. Food systems are pushing us across 'planetary…
The European Green Deal identifies right areas for action but more urgency needed to meet zero pollution ambition and benefit health
Today, the European Commission presented the European Green Deal plan that sets out many environmental health issues, where the European Union policies such as climate, air or chemicals, can help deliver a zero pollution objective and better health protection for all. However, to achieve the transformational, systemic change needed to address the magnitude of the challenges the world is facing today, the timeline and scope of the European Green Deal will have to better reflect the evidence which clearly makes the case for more urgent action.
A victory for future generations – European governments ban brain-harming pesticides chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl
Representatives from the European Member States in the EU Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCOPAFF) today voted to ban the neurotoxic pesticides chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl from the EU market, a historic move that has been applauded by health and environment groups.
