Open letter to Nicolas Hulot, French Minister responsible for the environment

Dear Minister,

We are writing to you on behalf of the EDC Free Europe coalition [1], which represents 70 civil society groups – trade unions, consumers, health professionals, cancer organisations, environmental groups and women’s groups – and promotes ambitious policy measures in order to reduce human and environmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

We are surprised and concerned to learn – through an article published in Le Monde [2] – that France could in the coming days vote in favour of the European Commission proposal for the elaboration of identification criteria for endocrine disruptors in the context of the EU regulation on pesticides. We call on you to reject this proposal in order to honour the electoral promises of Emmanuel Macron [3] and the ambitious approach that France has adopted so far in support of criteria that can be used in a practical and pragmatic way. We hereby acknowledge the remarkable work done by the French delegation at the European Chemicals Agency, which resulted in the long overdue recognition of Bisphenol A as a substance of very high concern for its endocrine disrupting properties for human health last week [4]. The difficulties to reach a consensus on the identification of this substance despite the significant level of scientific studies available about its negative effects is yet another illustration of the urgency to act towards swifter identification of endocrine disruptors.

The proposal for the EU criteria currently on the table is insufficient, impracticable and most importantly not based on science [5]. Should it be adopted, it would require too high a burden of proof to be able to identify substances, while allowing an extremely worrying exemption for numerous pesticides that have an effect on the endocrine system. It would neither allow reducing citizens’ exposure, nor avoiding the resulting adverse health effects and their costs (which are estimated to amount to 163 billion euros a year [6]) – which would be in total contradiction to the commitments made at the European level through the 7th Environmental Action Plan in 2013 [7].

At a time when the European project is seriously being challenged, the elaboration of ambitious criteria represents a unique opportunity to demonstrate its added value and could create a worldwide precedent in order to really protect our health and that of future generations. 90% of French citizens are in favour of your government continuing and strengthening policies to fight against endocrine disruptors at the national and European levels [8]. This is why, in view of the meeting of the European pesticides committee scheduled for 4 July, we ask you to maintain the firm position that France has adopted so far and to reject the proposal currently on the table. It is still time to make a difference and France’s role on this issue is fundamental.

Yours sincerely,

Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)

François Veillerette, President, PAN Europe

On behalf of the EDC-Free coalition

This letter is also available in French.