The Chemical Industries Association (CIA) has called for a re-think of today’s announcement by the European Commission on its proposal for the identification of endocrine disruptors. CIA has criticised the proposal for not providing the criteria necessary to distinguish between harmful and non-harmful substances.
Though CIA views the proposal to use the WHO/IPCS definition without potency (strength of substance) as a sensible starting point, it believes this single definition is not sufficient for regulatory purposes.
The chemical industry supports the use of the WHO/ IPCS Definition with full hazard characterisation and risk assessment. This will enable identification of those chemicals which can potentially cause harm and for appropriate regulatory action to be taken.
Without such an approach, many chemicals may unjustifiably be identified as endocrine disruptors, with potential proposals for stringent regulation including bans resulting in the unnecessary loss of many of the benefits they bring to society.
CIA encourages regulatory policy measures to be based on risk-based science and calls on the Commission and Member States to adopt this approach.
CIA’S senior Health executive, Dr Roger Pullin said “The chemical industry is fully committed to ensuring its products are handled and used safely so as to avoid harm to human health and the environment. This regulation will make that aim harder. I am today calling on the Commission to work with industry and all stakeholders in order to take another look and develop appropriate regulation.”
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For further information please call Simon Marsh 07951 389197 or Roger Pullin 020 7963 6738.
Notes
The chemical and pharmaceutical industry adds £15 billion of value to the UK economy every year from total annual turnover of around £50 billion.
The UK is a leading global chemical and pharmaceutical producer.
The chemical and pharmaceutical sector is the UK’s largest manufacturing exporter with annual exports of close to £50 billion.
UK Chemical manufacturing productivity, as measured by output per hour worked, increased by 10% between 2008 and 2014, in contrast productivity increased by 2.5% in UK services sectors and increased by 5% for the whole of manufacturing in the same period.