{"id":102565,"date":"2020-10-14T18:27:22","date_gmt":"2020-10-14T16:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/?p=102565"},"modified":"2021-11-22T11:28:43","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T10:28:43","slug":"chemical-detox-plan-for-europe-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/chemical-detox-plan-for-europe-announced\/","title":{"rendered":"Chemical detox plan for Europe announced"},"content":{"rendered":"

Major reforms could rapidly reduce chemical pollution<\/span><\/h3>\n

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NGOs welcome action on \u201cserious and growing\u201d threat<\/span><\/h3>\n

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Ban for PFAS, the ever-lasting poison in drinking water<\/h3>\n

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14 October 2020, Brussels – <\/b>Plans for the biggest upgrade of chemical safety laws in over a decade were <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> by the European Commission today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Europe already has the world\u2019s strictest chemical safety laws, but they are slow, <\/span>poorly<\/span><\/a> implemented<\/span><\/a> and failing to curb <\/span>rising<\/span><\/a> chemical production and pollution, most of it toxic.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Commission communication<\/a> outlines future action in some detail, but actual legal reform proposals are expected to follow in the coming months and years. Environmental, consumer and health NGOs welcomed the plans, which have the potential to rapidly phase-out vast amounts of toxic substances that are building up in European homes, workplaces and environment. Some 100,000 substances are used in Europe, 74% hazardous (<\/span>see Roadmap<\/span><\/a>). Daily exposure to a mix of toxic substances is linked to rising <\/span>health<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>fertility<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>developmental<\/span><\/a> threats, as well as the collapse and ultimately extinction of <\/span>insect, bird<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>mammal<\/span><\/a> populations, threats today <\/span>acknowledged<\/span> <\/a>by the Commission. The last dedicated EU <\/span>poll<\/span><\/a> showed two thirds of Europeans are concerned about being exposed to hazardous chemicals.<\/span><\/p>\n

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is the largest network of environmental organisations in Europe. <\/span><\/p>\n

EEB chemicals policy manager Tatiana Santos said:<\/strong> <\/span>\u201cWe warmly welcome this toxic-free environment strategy and its zero pollution goal because we face a serious and growing threat from an invisible enemy. Poll after poll shows the public is clearly and rightly concerned about harmful man-made chemicals polluting their homes, offices and environment, slowly and quietly sickening too many of them and their relatives. The EU is listening to that concern. It now needs to turn this template, this declaration of intent, into action. Similar pledges have gone nowhere in the past, but the Von der Leyen Commission is building a results-oriented reputation. We cannot afford years more \u2018paralysis by analysis\u2019 from officials.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cToday should be a watershed moment for all those backward-looking chemical companies to embrace rather than continue resisting progress. They are certainly going to be offered enough financial carrots to do so, though still no financial sticks to force polluters to pay.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/i>We look forward to working together with all European institutions, to ensure that the strategy delivers and that the committed actions are implemented as soon as possible.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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This is such incredible news. I am so grateful to the European Union for listening the science and opening their hearts to the story of @RobertBilott<\/a>. Governments can be responsive and do what\u2019s right for people! Bravo. https:\/\/t.co\/giNbGBBvRK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 15, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n