EDCs Roundtable European Parliament June 30th
The roundtable event organised by PAN-Europe and hosted by MEP Nicola Caputo at the European Parliament on 30th of June 2015 brought together scientists and regulators to discuss the regulation of EDCs in Europe. We are very pleased with the scientific presentations that clearly explained why exposure to EDCs is a crucial issue and what elements need to be considered to regulate successfully these chemicals in the EU and protect human and environmental health. The presentations were outstanding and the debate fruitful. Please find below the links to the presentations of the speakers and video recording of the whole meeting.
Video recording of the event (youtube channel)
Presentations (pdf files)
Speech of Angeliki Lysimachou (PAN-Europe): Bringing Science at the forefront of the EDCs discussion
Session 1 - EDCs: What are they and why should we be concerned?
-Prof. Åke Bergman (The Academic Center Swetox, Sweden): Human exposure to potential EDCs, semi-persistent chemicals and in particular current-use pesticides
-Prof. Jorma Toppari (University of Turku, Finland): EDCs and male reproductive health: Why are we concerned?
-Prof. Ing-Marie Olsson (KEMI, Sweden): Cost of inaction and endocrine disruptors what do we know?
Session 2 - EDCs and risk assessment
-Prof. Ana Soto (Tufts University, Boston): Endocrine disruptors: a panoply of health effects. When is enough enough?
-Prof. Barbara Demeneix (Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle/CNRS, expert OECD, Paris): Thyroid hormone disruption, brain development and IQ loss
-Hubert Deluyker and Jose Tarazona (EFSA): EFSA’s work on the assessment of endocrine active substances
Session 3 - Regulation of endocrine disrupting pesticides/biocides-update, roadmap and impact assessment
-Prof. Andreas Kortenkamp (Brunel University, London): Endocrine disrupters – impact assessment
-Michael Flueh (DG SANTE): Regulation of EDs under the PPP and BP Regulations and the ongoing impact assessment
-Bjorn Hansen (DG ENV): The Regulation of Endocrine Disruptors within REACH
An assessment of endocrine disrupting pesticides by PAN Europe
PAN Europe completed an impact assessment study showing which pesticides are endocrine disrupting chemicals. We used all available data, both industry's dossiers and independent scientific literature and assessed which pesticides should be banned according to the Pesticide Regulation (chemicals with endocrine properties that may cause adverse effects) and which ones are likely to be banned according to the commission's options (as explained in the EDCs-Roadmap and PAN Europe's position on roadmap). The detailed analysis of the results is given in Annex Ia and Ib.
Unlike the exaggerated claims by the industry and farmers- for example that up to 100 pesticides will be banned by the EU resulting in a massive economic impact in agriculture- our report reveals that only seven, four or zero pesticides are likely to be regulated according to the Commission's proposal. Further, we carried out an in-depth analysis on alternatives to these pesticides (Annex II) and we also evaluated the flaws of the industry-reports that claim huge costs and yield losses if such pesticides are banned (Annex III). Finally, we analysed the inadequacy of an "economic" impact assessment for decisions that aim to protect human and environmental health and we have given suggestions on what extra elements must be considered by the Commission, that are repeatedly neglected because they don't have a market value (Annex IV).
For more information, please read our press release >>
EDCs-training organized by PAN Europe
We also motivated the participants to respond to the Public Consultation launched at that time by the Commission on the different criteria options for EDCs and the regulatory decision-making. Moreover, we presented a platform tool for a quick response to the public consultation, created by the EDC-free coalition that PAN Europe is also a member. More than 20,000 people used the tool to respond to the consultation, which was a great success.
The event was very fruitful, reinforced collaboration among NGOs and we found the common grounds for action in 2015.
Invitation to the EDC meeting by PAN Europe
“Dear members and colleagues,
There is some heat going on in the Brussels arena in relation to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). The Public Consultation has been launched (which is so technical that it can hardly be called "public") that will be crucial to determine the next steps: how these chemicals are going to be regulated in Europe.
We don't want EDCs in our food, we don't want them near our houses, children's playgrounds, residential areas, not even near our pets. These chemicals are active in tiny amounts and all scientific evidence suggests that EDCs are bad news. Reproductive anomalies, cognitive difficulties, obesity, diabetes, autism, Parkinson disease are some of the diseases/dysfunctions that may derive from exposure to EDCs- especially when exposure takes place during the early life stages, when the organism is still under development.
The public consultation ends in January. PAN-Europe wants to use this opportunity and organize a training session/seminar among all our members and collaborators about EDC pesticides. Some of the experts on the field including research scientists, MEP advisers, Chemical experts and pioneer NGOs will present the different angles of EDCs and how they affect society and the environment. Furthermore, our members and NGOs active in Netherlands and Brussels will have the chance to present their national activities and discuss further opportunities.
Below is a very preliminary agenda of issues that we would like to include in the seminar (click here for the final agenda).
Thank you in advance for your contribution and collaboration.
Best regards,
PAN Europe”
1. With the financial support of the European Commission, DG Environment (LIFE2012ENVNL /0008833).
About Childprotect
Childprotect, an advocacy program to realise a policy to protect people and the environment against the harms of endocrine disrupting chemicals.
PAN Europe started in July 2013 a joint project with WECF (Woman for a common future in Europe) and 'Gezinsbond', a Flemish consumer organisation, on endocrine disruption, also sponsored by the LIFE+ program of the European Union. The project called 'Childprotect' will inform the public on the risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals in food and other products, will train and strategise with NGO's, will organise science round tables, lobby politicians and propose alternatives to companies. The program will run till April 17, 2015.
