New criteria for endocrine disruptors announced

New criteria for endocrine disruptors announced

ECHA/NA/16/26 

The European Commission has today announced scientific criteria to determine what is an endocrine disruptor under the pesticides and biocides regulations. ECHA is analysing how the new criteria will impact its work under the Biocidal Products Regulation. 

Helsinki, 15 June 2016 – ECHA welcomes the Commission's new criteria for endocrine disruptors as it strengthens the Agency's ongoing efforts to have the most suitable risk management measures in place for all hazardous substances on the market.

ECHA is now analysing how the new endocrine disruptor criteria will impact in particular the approval process for active substances under the Biocidal Products Regulation.

The Commission also announced that it is asking ECHA to investigate approved active biocidal substances that show indications of being endocrine disruptors and could be identified according to the new criteria once they are in force. ECHA is considering how it can make best use of the experience of its endocrine disruptor expert group, which has been active in identifying endocrine disruptors since February 2014. ECHA will work in close cooperation with the Commission and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).