More than 1 300 studies have found connections between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and serious health conditions such as infertility, diabetes, obesity, hormone-related cancers and neurological disorders.

The latest proposal by the Commission does not represent an improvement on previous proposals. It calls for an unrealistically high level of scientific evidence in relation to endocrine disruptors and exemptions for certain chemicals that ignore the capacity of chemicals to alter the functioning of the endocrine system directly or indirectly, thereby seriously limiting the ability to identify and regulate EDCs.

We strongly oppose this proposal because it includes broad exemptions that ignore the ability of a chemical to interfere with the endocrine system. To identify EDCs effectively and in a manner consistent with the state of the science, we support the creation of multiple categories based on the volume of existing evidence that shows how specific chemicals act as EDCs. This approach would be similar to the classification scheme used for carcinogenic substances. Using a system of categories would help to prioritise chemicals for assessment and regulation and allow for the incorporation of new data as more studies are published.

In the light of the above, can the Commission state whether it intends to include categories for identifying EDCs?