Members of the EDC-Free Europe coalition have welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s draft proposal for new hazard classes for the identification of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the CLP regulation. This inclusion is an essential step forward to uphold the commitments of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and to finally better protect people and the environment against exposure to harmful EDCs.

The EU rules on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP) is a key cornerstone of the block’s chemicals legislation. The EDC-Free Europe coalition has long called for CLP to catch up with the scientific state of play, and welcomes the Commission’s initiative to finally adapt the regulation to technical and scientific progress with this delegated act.

It is particularly important that the proposal includes a second hazard category for suspected EDCs. This will allow classification of substances for which there is substantial but not yet enough scientific evidence to be classified as a known or presumed EDC, allowing for more transparency in the supply chain and more information for workers and the public. This will also ensure coherence with the current CLP approach followed for the classification of substances which have carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic properties (CMRs).

The planned revision of the CLP regulation has been a long process with many experts and stakeholders involved. With this key step, the EU is filling a leadership gap at international level, and has the opportunity to bring along other countries in addressing the EDC pollution crisis. It is now high time to move forward and ensure the long overdue reduction of exposure to harmful endocrine disruptors.

Members of the EDC-Free Europe coalition will now carefully assess and provide comments on the draft proposal, in particular regarding the level of evidence needed for the classification of substances and the length of transition periods for implementation, as part of a public consultation that the European Commission has opened until 18 October.