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Press Releases

European governments united in addressing the air pollution health emergency

  • 5th March 2020
Following the European Commission’s Conclusions on the Fitness Check of the Ambient Air Quality Directive from November 2019 (3), European Environment Ministers today adopted joint conclusions (4) where they “welcome the Commission's intention to propose a revision of air quality standards, and look forward to discussions on such proposals, including on a possible closer alignment of the EU air quality standards with the WHO air quality guidelines”. 
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International scientists sound alarm bell over harmful chemicals coming in contact with our food

  • 3rd March 2020
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..
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MEPs block EU Commission proposal that would allow toxic lead in recycled PVC

  • 12th February 2020
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.
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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

  • 3rd February 2020
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.
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The European Green Deal identifies right areas for action but more urgency needed to meet zero pollution ambition and benefit health

  • 11th December 2019
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.
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New EU Commission needs to walk the talk on clean air

  • 29th November 2019
The Commission Staff Working Document on the Fitness Check of the Ambient Air Quality Directives, published today, makes it abundantly clear that it is necessary and beneficial to have European air quality standards. At the same time, the assessment points out that standards need to be implemented and applied rigorously, and that the current standards are not fully based on the latest science and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
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New-born babies in intensive care units exposed to health-harming endocrine disruptors BPA and parabens, new study shows

  • 27th November 2019
New research published today finds that new-borns in intensive care units are in contact with a variety of medical products that contain bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens. Infants are particularly vulnerable to the effects from these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), causing scientists and health groups alike to demand more comprehensive regulation of EDCs across the board for better protection.
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Carcinogenicity assessment was flawed for 4 out of 10 pesticides, new report shows

  • 21st October 2019
A new PAN Germany and HEAL review of carcinogenicity assessments of pesticide active ingredients shows 40 percent of them are not carried out in compliance with existing European guidelines, leading to possible continued exposure of farmers and consumers to cancer-causing pesticides. In 30 percent of the cases significant details were missing from the dossiers, raising uncertainties about how European authorities came to a conclusion.
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European civil society groups raise questions about industry-funded study on E171 toxicity and call on decision-makers to support the French ban on unnecessary food additive

  • 12th September 2019
A crucial European meeting to discuss the French ban of E171 - the food additive version of titanium dioxide - is due to take place on Monday 16th September. Civil society groups across Europe raise questions about a new industry study released ahead of this meeting and warn against diverting decision-makers’ attention from the already existing evidence of the potential health threats posed by E171.
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La déclaration de l’EFSA reconnaissant les effets nocifs du chlorpyrifos sur la santé humaine ajoute à l’urgence d’une interdiction totale

  • 6th August 2019
La semaine dernière, l'Agence européenne de sécurité alimentaire (EFSA) a reconnu dans une déclaration publique que le chlorpyrifos est nocif pour la santé humaine et ne remplit pas les critères de renouvellement sur le marché européen[1]. Une coalition d'ONG rassemblant certaines organisations comme Health And Environment Alliance (HEAL), SumOfUs, Pesticides Action Network (PAN) Europe et PAN Allemagne et Générations Futures, salue cette déclaration, qui est un premier pas vers l'interdiction du chlorpyrifos dans les plus brefs délais.
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