Letter REACH Committee November 2019 lead in PVC

We are writing to you regarding the REACH Committee Meeting that will take place on November 19-20, 2019.

A crucial discussion (and potentially vote) is planned during this meeting, on the Draft Commission Regulation amending Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 as regards lead and its compounds (‘Lead stabilisers in PVC’).

The undersigned NGOs support the Commission’s proposal to restrict the use of lead in PVC as it will reduce emissions of this highly toxic chemical which impairs neurobehavioral function, particularly as a result of childhood or fetal exposure and is linked to lower intelligence quotient (IQ). There is no safe threshold for lead exposure. In fact, there is evidence that lead’s impacts on children’s neurodevelopment are greatest at the very lowest doses…