Health and Environment Alliance | Press Releases: Toxic Chemicals

Press note: Glyphosate: failed Member States’ vote shows it is impossible to ignore science – European Commission called to drop its proposal

16th November 2023

The European Commission failed to get enough support for its proposal to reauthorise the use of glyphosate, the world’s most widely used pesticide which is associated with risks of cancer and other health disorders, for another ten years. It is the second time in two months that EU governments fail to reach the required majority to adopt the Commission’s plans. HEAL urges the European Commission to withdraw its proposal for a renewal based on the amount of scientific evidence warranting serious health impacts.

Press note: European Parliament votes to protect health with the reform of the CLP legislation

4th October 2023

A majority of members of the European Parliament supported the report proposed by the ENVI committee on the revision of the legislation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances (CLP). The reform of CLP is crucial to improve the protection of workers and citizens through more effective hazard identification, labelling and packaging of chemicals in industrial and commercial use.

Press note: European Parliament ENVI committee supports a protective revision of CLP

12th September 2023

Yesterday evening members of the European Parliament's ENVI committee supported the draft report on the revision of the legislation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances (CLP). The reform of…

The real-life impact of PFAS pollution on communities – examples from Veneto, Antwerp, Dordrecht, Ronneby and Korsør and how to take action

10th May 2023

A new website by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) sheds light on five cases of PFAS pollution affecting communities across Europe and provides resources for concerned citizens and health professionals to take action.

Over 100 organisations call on the European Commission to fully ban PFAS by 2030

14th March 2023

The EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the draft proposal for an EU-wide restriction on the production and uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), starting a much needed process to restrict these 'forever chemicals'

Groundbreaking cross-country media investigation reveals thousands of sites contaminated by PFAS around Europe, adding further urgency to enact EU-wide ban on ‘forever chemicals’

23rd February 2023

An unprecedented cross-country media investigation on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination around Europe - The Forever Pollution Project - reveals that more than 17,000 sites are contaminated by ‘forever chemicals’ around Europe.

Civil-society groups demand for a highly protective EU restriction on PFAS

Civil society groups demand a highly protective EU restriction on PFAS

7th February 2023

The EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the draft proposal for an EU-wide restriction on the production and uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), starting a much needed process to restrict these 'forever chemicals'

Pesticides and Health Impacts / Pestisitler ve Sağlığa Etkileri

26th January 2023

Pestisitlerin Sağlık Etkileri konusunda Türkiye sağlık sektöründen öneriler

French government announces national action plan on PFAS chemicals ahead of expected publication of EU-wide proposal for restrictions

17th January 2023

French authorities have today released the country’s first action plan specifically dedicated to PFAS, acknowledging the severe consequences that these ‘forever chemicals’ have on people’s health and the environment and the urgent need to reduce production.

Environmental health groups welcome introduction of European harmonised hazard classes for endocrine disruptors

19th December 2022

The European Commission has today released its proposal for the creation of dedicated hazard classes for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) under the EU legislation for classification, labelling and packaging of…

Civil society groups urge the EU to keep their promises to ban ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS

12th October 2022

46 European civil society organisations urgently demand EU member states and the Commission to ban all PFAS in consumer products by 2025 and across all uses by 2030.

Belgium set to launch its first-ever national action plan to increase health and environment protection from endocrine disrupting chemicals

28th February 2022

Health groups have welcomed Belgium’s first-ever draft national action plan on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as an important step towards better identification of and health protection against the risks associated to exposure to such harmful substances.

European Parliament recognises the European Green Deal as a significant contributing factor to cancer prevention in Europe

17th February 2022

The European Parliament has adopted its non-legislative report responding to the publication of the EU Commission 2021 communication on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, recognising the EU Green Deal is a key tool to limit people’s exposure to pollution and prevent cancer.

Letter: Health and environment groups urge EU Commissioners to support French proposal for EU restriction on harmful substances in single-use diapers

26th January 2022

In a letter published today, thirty-four civil society groups urge the European Commission to support a proposal put forward by French authorities to restrict a group of extremely hazardous substances from single-use babies’ diapers.

How ATHLETE research on the Human Exposome offers tools for lifelong disease prevention and policy action: New overview article in Journal of Environmental Epidemiology

25th January 2022

A new overview paper in the Journal of Environmental Epidemiology connects the dots on how the ATHLETE project's research on the Human Exposome offers advanced tools for lifelong disease prevention and policy action.

Chemicals in tattoo inks & permanent make-up: EU-wide restriction covering over 4,000 substances enters into force today

4th January 2022

The legislative piece covers some 4,000 substances and aims to ensure citizens across the EU are equally protected from hazardous chemicals that may cause allergies and serious health impacts like cancer.

Experts highly concerned as EU body rejects proposal to exclude hazardous chemicals in diapers

9th December 2021

Health and environmental groups have reacted with severe concern after the European Chemicals Agency's scientific committees today rejected an attempt to eliminate hazardous chemicals from single-use babies' diapers.

Civil society groups call on Belgian federal government’s involvement to guarantee action to clean up and remediate PFAS pollution around Antwerp, monitor consequences, and guarantee accountability

10th November 2021

PFAS pollution is a reality for communities near Antwerp and Zwijndrecht. HEAL and Grondrecht are asking the Belgian government to step in to guarantee action to clean up and remediate pollution, monitor consequences and guarantee accountability.

Letter: Gouvernance et moyens de la Stratégie Nationale sur les Perturbateurs Endocriniens (SNPE)

25th June 2021

À l’occasion de la réunion du Groupe Santé Environnement (GSE) le 30 juin 2021, un collectif d’associations citoyennes, professionnelles et d’usagers, de syndicats et de collectifs, demande aux Ministres des…

How PFAS chemicals affect women, pregnancy and human development: Health actors call for urgent action to phase them out

25th May 2021

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) have published a fact sheet and infographic to call for immediate action against “forever chemicals”, to protect reproductive health, fertility and human development.