EDCs and the European Union

We appreciate your interest in the subject of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

More action is needed in the European Union (EU) mandate to ensure effective protection from harmful EDCs. Persistent regulatory gaps such as missing information requirements and very lengthy restriction processes under the EUs chemicals law, REACH, currently prevent the identification and control of many EDCs.

Annexes:

Summary State of Play for EU Actions On Endocrine Disruptors

EU Actions taken/ongoing (2019-2024)	Still missing – for 2024-2029 mandate
New hazard classes to identify known and suspected EDCs – adopted 2023 within the EU Classification, labelling and packaging Directive (CLP)	EU technical guidelines for identification– developed by Chemicals Agency, ECHA. Expected Nov 2024. Proposals awaited: Improved data requirements to identify EDCs under REACH Introduce assessment of mixtures of chemical under REACH Swifter restrictions by groups of EDCs, instead of one substance at a time.
An effective ban on Bisphenol-A (BPA) and other bisphenols in food and drink packaging, following the 2022 scientific assessment by EFSA (European Food Safety Agency)	Adoption of BPA ban expected by end 2024, after scrutiny by EP and Council.
Proposed ban on EDCs and PFAS in toys in Toy Safety Reg. accepted by Parliament and Council.	Final text to be confirmed by Trilogue negotiations later in 2024.
	Proposed ban on EDCs in a legislative revision of EU cosmetics law. Proposal awaited - promised for 2024.
Restriction for sub-group of PFAS (PFHxA) approved 2024 (NB: most PFAS are also EDCs)	A universal PFAS ban is under discussion by the EU Chemicals Agency, ECHA. More info here. Proposal expected 2026.
‘Essential use’ Commission guidelines (2024) for EDCs and other most harmful chemicals.	Essential use principles need to be included in specific legislation in order to take effect. Proposals awaited.

EDCs European Newsletter

To help share the latest science-based information on EDCs during the height of the pandemic, we prepared the following newsletters for policymakers in the EU. We urged policymakers to prioritize specific actions on EDCs, including a coherent identification process linked to control measures to reduce widespread exposures, and have seen a number of successes since then, including our inclusion in the UN’s International Negotiating Committee for the Plastics Treaty. If you have any questions or requests for content, please reach out Joe Laakso, PhD, Director of Science Policy at [email protected].