European agriculture is pesticide-intensive, relying on the use of numerous hazardous pesticides that can damage both human health and the environment. Pesticides in our food, water, and air can increase the risk of health problems such as cancer and infertility, harm children’s healthy development and disrupt our hormonal systems.
HEAL works with health groups, civil society organisations, and decision-makers to ensure the use of harmful pesticides becomes a thing of the past.
Science community and health groups raise concerns on the pesticides omnibus
Scientists and health groups have significant concerns that the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus proposal would weaken health protection in the EU.
HEAL at the European Health Forum Gastein
HEAL Executive Director Genon K. Jensen will be at the European Health Forum Gastein, speaking at the session, Regulatory shield defending Europe’s brain’s health in a volatile environment.
Over 500 scientists and doctors call on European Parliament to pause pesticide deregulation
European scientists and doctors have sent a letter urging the European Parliament to suspend the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus, until an independent scientific investigation on its health and environmental impacts has been conducted.
EU court dismisses industry appeal on of health-harming pesticide chlorpyrifos-methyl
The European Court of Justice dismissed the appeal from pesticide manufacturers to challenge once again the non-renewal of the pesticide chlorpyrifos-methyl. Studies show that chlorpyrifos-methyl can impact brain development (developmental neurotoxicity) and cause DNA damage (genotoxicity) – both potentially leading to adverse effects across generations.
HEAL calls on the Commission to Withdraw the Food and Feed Safety simplification omnibus proposal
The Food and Feed Safety simplification omnibus proposal puts health at risk. Health groups have significant concerns that this proposal, as well as some amendments proposed by the co-legislators, would lead to a weakening of key health protective provisions...
Webinar: Pesticides and Parkinson’s disease: the health impacts of regulatory decisions
Watch the recording of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the Dutch Parkinson's Association (De Parkinson Vereniging) for our upcoming science and policy webinar, “Pesticides and Parkinson's disease: the health impacts of regulatory decisions”
Over 500 scientists and doctors call on European Parliament to pause pesticide deregulation
European scientists and doctors have sent a letter urging the European Parliament to suspend the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus, until an independent scientific investigation on its health and environmental impacts has been conducted.
EU court dismisses industry appeal on of health-harming pesticide chlorpyrifos-methyl
The European Court of Justice dismissed the appeal from pesticide manufacturers to challenge once again the non-renewal of the pesticide chlorpyrifos-methyl. Studies show that chlorpyrifos-methyl can impact brain development (developmental neurotoxicity) and cause DNA damage (genotoxicity) – both potentially leading to adverse effects across generations.
Press note: Health groups warn EU deregulation drive on pesticides and biocides will put people’s health at risk and increase costs
The Health and Environment Alliance warns the European Commission's food and feed deregulation omnibus proposal…
Press note: the EDC-Free coalition urges the European Commission to ban two harmful pesticides from the market in light of new evidence
Press note: HEAL together, with the other EDC-Free Europe coalition campaign partners, are calling on the European Commission to urgently propose the non-renewal of two harmful pesticides—fenoxaprop-P-ethyl and fludioxonil.
Vision for EU’s agrifood sector must firm up commitments to protect people’s and farmers’ health from health-harming pesticides
Today, the European Commission published its Vision for Agriculture and Food, outlining plans for the European agri-food sector for this 2024-2029 term.
Worrying news for health: MEPs reject watered down and hollowed out pesticides law
Members of the European Parliament voted against the draft text for a Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), following a substantial hollowing out of the draft law. This is worrying news for health.
Policy briefing: Reducing the cardiovascular disease burden through environmental prevention
Given the importance of environmental prevention of cardiovascular disease, HEAL recommends in a new policy briefing that the EU’s future actions strengthen measures to reduce air and chemical pollution at source. This includes ending public financing for fossil fuel burning as a key pollution source, as well as providing dedicated financing for pollution prevention and control in the next EU budget. Prevention efforts should also consider the synergies of pollution and climate change.
HEAL cautions against deregulation of approval systems for active substances in pesticides
The European Commission has been seeking evidence on a ‘food and feed safety simplification omnibus’. HEAL has expressed concerns about potential changes to the approval system for active substances in plant protection products and biocides as part of this omnibus. Active substances in pesticides are designed to affect living organisms, and many that are not the primary target of the substance can also be affected, such as humans, pets, farm animals, and wildlife. These chemicals are known to impact biodiversity, pollute the environment, and harm human health.
Joint statement: A Roadmap for a Pesticide Phase-Out
85 organisations including HEAL have in January 2025 published a roadmap for a pesticide phase-out: “A swift and just transition to phase out pesticides and safeguard biodiversity and people’s health must remain a top priority for the new European Commission. This goal should be central to the EU’s Vision for Agriculture and Food, which is expected on 19 February 2025.”
Joint statement: For an ambitious pesticides regulation that protects people, biodiversity and ecosystems
More than 75 health and environment groups call upon all EU member states and members of the EU Parliament to support a strong Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR) without further delays.
Health benefits of a Green Deal approach in Turkey
A new briefing by HEAL (in English and in Turkish), as part of the EU funded CISIP project, underlines the many health benefits that could be gained if Turkish decision-makers implemented stronger Green Deal action. Turkey’s Green Deal Action Plan, launched in 2021, sets 32 objectives and 81 actions, including on a Green and Circular Economy, secure energy supply and sustainable agriculture. However, contrary to the EU Green Deal which was adopted in 2019, the Turkish plan doesn’t set any tangible targets or deadlines.
Q&A on animal testing and chemical safety assessments
We are exposed to a wide mix of potentially harmful chemicals on a daily basis. To assess whether and how exposure to chemical substances can impact our health and the environment, European and national regulatory authorities rely on the results from several testing methods, including animal testing, when performing their safety assessment. In this Q&A, HEAL answers several key questions about the use of animal testing in the European Union.
Infographic: The impact of harmful pesticides on people’s health and the environment
To answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the impact of harmful chemicals on people’s health and the environment, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has launched a new easy-to-use infographic and supporting social media assets.
HEAL and European Cancer Leagues relaunch infographic illustrating how Europe can prevent cancer by tackling environmental pollutants
To mark the start of the European Week Against Cancer 2022, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the European Cancer Leagues (ECL) have teamed up to relaunch an infographic telling the story behind environmental cancer prevention.
Infographic: Europe needs to ban glyphosate to protect farmers, our health and the environment
Glyphosate is the most widely-used pesticide in the world, despite its well-documented negative health impacts. A new infographic from HEAL explains why the EU must ban glyphosate without delay.
HEAL and European Cancer Leagues launch infographic illustrating how Europe can prevent cancer by tackling environmental pollutants
To mark the start of the European Week Against Cancer 2020, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the European Cancer Leagues (ECL) have teamed up to launch an infographic telling the story behind environmental cancer prevention.
Fact cards: Ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos from our plates
The chemical chlorpyrifos has serious negative effects on our health, especially for children. Yet it…
Scientific evidence of glyphosate link to cancer dismissed in ongoing EU assessment, new report reveals
A HEAL report published today shows that scientific evidence that glyphosate is carcinogenic has so far been dismissed in the EU scientific assessment that will form the basis for the re-approval discussion of its EU market license.
Carcinogenicity assessment was flawed for 4 out of 10 pesticides, new report shows
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.
Webinar: Pesticides and Parkinson’s disease: the health impacts of regulatory decisions
Watch the recording of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the Dutch Parkinson's Association (De Parkinson Vereniging) for our upcoming science and policy webinar, “Pesticides and Parkinson's disease: the health impacts of regulatory decisions”
Webinar: Impact of pesticides on human health
The Health and Environment Alliance organises a webinar on the impact of pesticides on human health on the occasion of the Pesticide Action Week 2025. The webinar will see experts from the European Environment Agency and others present their work on this front.
Voices of Hope: Phyto-Victimes
Phyto-Victimes was founded in France in 2011 by agricultural workers who had reached two painful…
Voices of Hope: video series
As we move into 2026, we're drawing inspiration from individuals who create real change through…
Agriculture and pesticides in France – Exhibition video
Agriculture & Pesticides: Sortons de la dépendance à cette relation toxique This video was made…
A pesticide-free EU: an opportunity to protect health
HEAL calls on the EU to step up action for a Pesticide Free EU Watch…
HEAL calls on the Commission to Withdraw the Food and Feed Safety simplification omnibus proposal
The Food and Feed Safety simplification omnibus proposal puts health at risk. Health groups have significant concerns that this proposal, as well as some amendments proposed by the co-legislators, would lead to a weakening of key health protective provisions...
Letter to EP ENVI and AGRI: Food and feed safety omnibus: Health call to uphold public interest and science on pesticides
HEAL has sent a letter to members of the European Parliament's ENVI and AGRI committees regarding the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus, to express great concerns that the omnibus processes overall, including the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus, would lead to a weakening of key health protective environmental laws.
Joint letter: Need for proper scrutiny and expert deliberation on the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus Proposal
HEALs was part of a coalition of public health, environmental, and consumer organisations that sent an open letter to the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, calling for proper scrutiny and expert deliberation on the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus Proposal.
Joint letter to EP ENVI and AGRI committees: EU omnibus processes – health call to uphold public interest and science, including for the regulation of pesticides
HEAL, together with 24 other organisations, has sent a letter to EP ENVI and AGRI committees ahead of their exchange on 5 May, calling on them to uphold public interest and science, including for the regulation of pesticides.
Joint letter to EU agriculture ministers: EU omnibus processes – health call to uphold public interest and science, including for the regulation of pesticides
HEAL, together with 24 other organisations, has sent a letter to EU agriculture ministers ahead of their meeting on 30 March, calling on them to uphold public interest and science, including for the regulation of pesticides.
Joint letter: Call to strengthen implementation of EU Pesticide Law to protect health and the environment
HEAL alongside over 130 organisations has written to Commission President von der Leyen in the context of the simplification omnibus on Food and Feed Safety to urge for stronger implementation of the EU pesticide law to protect human health and the environment, while ensuring Europe’s food production becomes more resilient and sustainable.
