EU Health Commissioner-designate devoted to final EDC criteria

Vytenis Andriukatis announced that he will aim to overcome obstacles on finding conclusive criteria for endocrine disrupting substances (EDCs) under the biocides and pesticides legislation.

EU Regulatory Bulletin contents - October 2014

• EU Commission publishes BPR review programme Regulation
• ECHA issues official Article 95 list of relevant substances, and respective substance and product suppliers
• ECHA publishes a Practical Guide on the Biocidal Products Regulation
• EFSA issues Guidance on the assessment of exposure of operators, workers, residents and bystanders in risk assessment for pesticides
• EU Health Commissioner-designate devoted to final EDC criteria
• REACH Directors’ Contact Group provides recommendations on data costs

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During his confirmation hearing before the European Parliament on 30 September 2014, the EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner-designate Vytenis Andriukatis announced that he will aim to overcome obstacles on finding conclusive criteria for endocrine disrupting substances (EDCs) under the biocides and pesticides legislation.

Chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties are used in various industrial and service sectors, and can be found in the environment after their use. Under the current legislation for biocidal and plant protection products, the European Commission is required to specify scientific criteria for the determination of EDCs.

Prior to the hearing, in his written reply to the MEPs, the former Lithuanian minister of health emphasized on the need to ensure ''safe additives, biocides and pesticides'', as well as ''rigorous and transparent scientific risk assessments of new products and technologies''. It remains to be seen, taking into account also the institutional restructuring regarding the EU chemicals regulation announced by Juncker, whether the EU decision-makers will properly use their synergies for the sake of high consumer and environmental standards in sectors such as pesticides, biocides, additives and food contact materials.

Due to the potential socio-economic impacts linked to how the ECDs criteria will be defined and the complexity of the matter, the Commission has already launched a public consultation open to citizens and organizations by 16 January 2015.