Press note – Health groups welcome the revised EU Toy Safety Regulation
The Health and Environment Alliance welcomes the revision of the EU Toy Safety Regulation – with trilogue negotiations reaching an agreement in April 2025. It importantly expands the ban on carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic-for-reproduction substances to include endocrine disruptors and other hazardous substances.
Press note – It is time for a health-focused reform of REACH
As the EU Commission and representatives of member states gather on 3 April 2025 to discuss the reform of EU chemicals legislation REACH, HEAL stresses the importance of putting health at the core of the revision. The CARACAL meeting will see the EU Commission present their initial plan for reforming REACH.
Joint letter calling for an ECHA mandate to restrict aromatic brominated flame retardants
HEAL, together with Arnika, Cancer Prevention and Education Society, CHEM Trust, ChemSec, ClientEarth, EEB, Fidra, and Zero Waste Europe have sent a letter calling on the EuropeanCommission to swiftly give a mandate to ECHA to prepare a restriction dossier for aromatic brominated flame retardants based on their recent investigation report which concludes that these substances pose a high burden to the environment.
Press note – New evidence: children face health risks from chemical exposure in everyday plastics and personal care products
Hormone-disrupting chemicals found in personal care products and plastics harm children's health, new research from the EU-funded ATHLETE project finds. The exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the health effects on over 370 children in France were studied. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as parabens and phthalates, were linked to poorer child overall health. It suggests that they could contribute to the development of multiple chronic diseases related to cardiometabolic, respiratory and neurodevelopmental health.
HEAL attending High-Level Meeting on the upcoming Chemicals Industry Package
HEAL's Deputy Director, Strategic Lead Anne Stauffer will attend tomorrow's High-Level Meeting on the upcoming Chemicals Industry Package, on invitation by European Commissioners Séjourné and Rosvall.
Press note: NGOs call for ban of harmful chemicals PFAS and bisphenols in toys
Several organisations, including HEAL, are calling for European Commissioner Séjourné to ensure the most harmful chemicals will no longer be allowed in children’s toys. The EU is currently revising its Toy Safety Legislation — a key opportunity for policymakers to strengthen protections for children against most harmful chemicals with no further delay.
Toxic-free toys for European children!
HEAL, alongside other organisations, are calling for on Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, to commit to revise the Toy Safety law in the European public interest and protect Europe’s children from the most harmful chemicals in toys.
HEAL, EEB, ChemTrust comments to the Commission proposal on new REACH information requirements for endocrine disruptors
HEAL, together with the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and ChemTrust, has submitted joint comments to the Commission proposal on new REACH information requirements for endocrine disruptors.
The next EU budget: Strengthening financing for zero pollution, climate resilience and disease prevention
In the coming months, EU institutions will negotiate the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the EU’s long-term budget, usually covering a seven-year period. It details the public spending for different areas of EU policies, including environment and climate action.
Polish Parliament event on the link between pollution and cancer
On World Cancer Day, representatives from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) Poland attended the meeting of the Parliamentary Group "Rodzice dla Klimatu" (Parents for Climate). Experts from non-governmental organisations, the scientific community, and the healthcare sector discussed the impact of pollution on cancer and prevention. Olga Wdowiczak, environmental health policy specialist at HEAL, presented findings on how exposure to hazardous chemicals increases the cancer risk, particularly for children.
The Clean Industrial Deal needs to be a zero-pollution deal
Against the backdrop of an ever-growing body of evidence on the health impacts and cost of people's exposure to pollution, HEAL is concerned that the Clean Industrial Deal misses the opportunity to set the EU on the path for swift and significant pollution reduction and disease prevention. To work for people in the EU and their health, the Clean Industrial Deal needs to be a zero pollution deal, with three principles at its core.
HEAL Poland continues to build capacity on health threats of chemicals
To address growing concern about harmful chemicals in Poland and to raise awareness about the impacts of chemicals on health in Poland, HEAL in November 2024 has started publishing materials and articles on the matter and engage the Polish health sector.
Calling for the most ambitious children’s health protection in revision of EU Toy Safety Regulation
HEAL has sent a letter to EU member states Permanent Representatives regarding the ongoing negotiations between the Council, Parliament and Commission on the revision of the EU Toy Safety Regulation.
HEAL webinar series on the health impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
To raise awareness of the impacts of PFAS on human health, HEAL is organising a series of three webinars in October 2024, each focusing on a different health impact of PFAS. The first webinar on 10 October focuses on impacts on the immune system. The subsequent webinars will focus on cancer and the impacts of exposure in early life and pregnancy.
Joint letter to EU Commission President Von der Leyen: It’s time to end “the worst pollution crisis in human history”: Ban PFAS
More than 90 organisations have written to EU Commission President Von der Leyen regarding the PFAS pollution crisis.
