EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: implications for the regulation of endocrine disrupting chemicals

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BACKGROUND
The 2020 EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability towards a toxic-free environment (CSS) is intended to form a key part of the European Green Deal. While the CSS recognises the fundamental role that chemicals play in daily life, it also aims to address concerns over the perceived negative impacts of chemicals on human health or on the environment. The CSS therefore promotes a ‘safe and sustainable by design’ approach to chemicals, while proposing bans or restrictions on the use of those chemicals recognised as being hazardous and which are already on the market. Endocrine Disrupting (ED) chemicals are a particular focus of the CSS which states that exposure to ED chemicals is not only ‘a threat to human health’ but also ‘one of the key drivers putting the Earth at risk’, requiring specific attention due to their increased use and reported links to chronic and delayed health conditions. The CSS notes that exposure to ED chemicals during fetal development or puberty can cause subtle but irreversible effects, which often only become apparent many years later. The continued use of ED chemicals is seen as posing a serious risk to human health and wildlife, with consequent economic costs for society. Accompanying the CSS is the 2019 Commission Working document ‘Fitness Check on Endocrine Disruptors’ (1), which is intended to address inconsistencies between different pieces of EU Chemicals legislation.