The Commission proposes to the Council and the European Parliament to adopt a strong science-based approach to the identification of endocrine disruptors and to endorse the World Health Organization definition. The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said: "Endocrine disruptors can have serious health and environmental impacts and even if many substances containing them are already banned as a result of existing legislation on pesticides and biocides, we have to remain vigilant. The Commission is committed to ensuring the highest level of protection of both human health and the environment, which is why we are today putting forward strict criteria for endocrine disrupters – based on science – making the EU regulatory system the first worldwide to define such scientific criteria in legislation."

Today's package includes: a Communication providing an overview of the scientific and regulatory context; an Impact Assessment Report which presents the state of science regarding different criteria to identify endocrine disruptors, and provides information on possible consequences; and two draft legal acts – one under the Biocidal Products legislation, the other under the Plant Protection Products legislation, which set the criteria to identify endocrine disruptors. A full press release, MEMO, and the full text of the presentation of the scientific criteria are available online.

Source: europa.eu