Tag: chemicals

Many EU consumers believe that their food, cleaning and beauty products contain chemicals, and are most likely to check food products for chemicals before buying, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.

The EU must take action to reduce human's exposure to suspected hormone-affecting endocrine disruptors. Current regulation should be closely examined with a view to updating or proposing new legislation by June 2015 at the latest, the European Parliament's Public Health Committee said in resolution approved yesterday (23 January).

The first pan-European biomonitoring survey, funded by the European Union, suggests that all mothers and children have chemicals in their bodies that should not be there.

The REACH chemical safety regulation has so far showed limited results, with only "anecdotal evidence" that industry was starting to phase out the most dangerous substances, the European Commission said ahead of a review of the legislation due later this month.

BASF, the German chemical giant, has distanced itself from the rest of the industry by saying Europe's REACH chemical safety law was worth the investment in the end. A review of the legislation is expected this month.

A European regulatory panel has called for a temporary ban on the sale of fresh foods showing high levels of two substances used for cleaning and disinfection under guidelines that take effect today (26 July).

As the Euro 2012 football competition nears kick off, the continent’s most skilful footballers have been warned that their shirts could well be stuffed full of harmful toxins by the European Consumer Organisation, BEUC.

Shanna H. Swan, a renowned scientist specialising in reproductive medicine, has warned about the health effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) known as phthalates which can end up in food via pesticides or plastics. In an interview with EurActiv, she calls on regulators to better protect consumers against those "hidden chemicals".

The EU's risk assessment system for chemicals has derailed and should be reformed urgently in favour of a science-based system that takes full account of the work undertaken by the scientific community, argues Hans Muilerman.

After years of trying to persuade consumers that their products present no health or environmental risk, the pesticides industry has now recognised its failure to address wider society concerns. Friedhelm Schmider of industry group ECPA promises "a huge change of mindset" in engaging with consumers and farmers.

Dan wears a clear plastic bubble over his head so fellow partygoers don't have to breathe his cigarette smoke, one of the most readily identifiable spoilers of indoor air.

No fundamental overhaul of the EU's controversial REACH chemicals regulation should be expected under a review scheduled for next year, the European Commission told participants at a conference last week, despite industry calls to ease the law's burdensome registration system.

Hubert Mandery, director-general of the European Chemicals Industry Council (Cefic), argues that an increase in the EU's emissions reduction target would hamper competitiveness, potentially costing the industry billions of euros in indirect and direct costs.

Two environmental groups said on Monday (9 May) they had sued Europe's chemicals watchdog for withholding information about the production of toxic chemicals.

The European Union will ban six toxic chemicals within three to five years, three of which are commonly used in plastic household items, the European Commission said on Thursday (17 February).

The European Union will ban the use of organic compound Bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic baby bottles from 2011 with the backing of a majority of EU governments, the EU's executive Commission said on Thursday (25 November).

An estimated two million tonnes of human waste are disposed of in watercourses every day, with water pollution from emerging chemical pollutants like nanoparticles an issue of particular concern at this year’s World Water Week in Stockholm.

The European Commission said it broke a deadlock today (25 March) on setting the criteria for identifying hazardous chemicals, requesting companies to table plans to substitute them even if no alternatives have been clearly identified.

There is sufficient know-how to assess risks to human health and the environment resulting from combined exposure to multiple chemicals, a European Commission report argues.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a complete overhaul of legislation regulating toxic chemicals, describing the current law as an "inadequate tool" to protect people and the environment against chemical risks. The move echoes Europe's controversial REACH regulation, adopted in 2006.

The first-ever lifecycle analysis of the chemical industry's global emissions highlights the importance of the sector as a means of helping to reduce CO2 emissions through energy-efficiency and renewable energy applications, including insulation and coating for lightweight packaging.

More global regulation on chemicals is required, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas agreed at a forum last week, urging action on 'chemical cocktails', endocrine disruptors and nanotechnology.

Companies are submitting technically incomplete REACH registration dossiers and are trying to register several substances per file, while failing to be precise enough on the exact composition of their substances, the executive director of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Geert Dancet, told EurActiv in an interview.

Innovation is a catalyst for sustainability in Europe's chemicals sector, Dr Gernot Klotz, executive director of research and innovation at industry body Cefic, told EurActiv in a wide-ranging interview.