Testing of endocrine disrupting pesticides
6.1.2020
Question for written answer E-000027/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Martin Hojsík (Renew)
A recently published report entitled ‘Identification of Endocrine Disrupting Pesticides: Trapped in a Vicious Circle’ [1] revealed that, in 31 out of 33 cases in which pesticide active substances with endocrine disrupting properties were approved for use within the EU, no relevant tests to assess these properties were requested from industry. Internationally agreed testing methods developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have been available since 2012. Due to the incompleteness of these studies, endocrine disrupting pesticides are not always identified in the EU and policies preventing exposure to endocrine disruptors are blocked.
- 1.Commission Regulation (EU) No 283/2013 (Section 5.8.3) stipulates that when there is evidence of endocrine disrupting properties, studies ‘taking into account Union or internationally agreed guidelines’ are required. Why did the Commission not begin to use OECD tests to fulfil this requirement in 2012, when these tests became available?
- 2.In its 2018 guidance, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) states that these OECD tests ‘need to be available’ for authorities to identify endocrine disrupting properties [2] . How does the Commission take this guidance into account?
- 3.EFSA concludes in its guidance that ‘sensitive endpoints’ are missing in the industry dossier. Why is the Commission using outdated data and testing protocols that fail to identify specific sensitive endocrine disrupting endpoints?