Civil society organisations welcome the publication of the new investigation report on PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and its additives by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The findings clearly indicate harm to health and environment from some substances added to PVC and the release of its microparticles.
The EDC-Free Europe coalition, representing more than 70 health and environment organisations across Europe, is calling on the EU Commission to finally release a long overdue strategy on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
EDCs, also known as hormone disruptors, are artificial chemicals that interfere with the natural hormones in our bodies. In 2017, the European Commission committed to bring out a new integrated strategy on EDCs, after previous attempts to update the existing EU Community Strategy on EDCs from 1999 had been derailed by intense industry lobbying [1].
Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and EDC-Free Europe spokesperson, said:
“Every day, we are all exposed to a cocktail of chemicals that affect our hormone systems. But the EU’s current approach to identify and regulate hormone disruptors is full of loopholes and leaves every European at risk of preventable health impacts. We need the European Commission to finally release a new strategy on EDCs that will not only comply with citizens’ demands for better health protection but also boost innovation towards safer alternatives and bring down health costs through disease prevention.”
Our eight demands for a European strategy on EDCs can be found online here (also available in Spanish, French, Dutch and German.
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