Endocrine disruptors are regulated in different areas at the EU level in an effort to prevent risks to human health and the environment. Specific measures or options for the identification, assessment, and management of endocrine disruptors are provided in the legislation for plant protection products and biocidal products , as well as for chemicals in general under the REACH Regulation , regulations covering cosmetics, regulations for medical devices , and the Water Framework Directive . Where a synthetic substance is found to have endocrine disrupting properties that substance will be subject to regulation in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions in the EU. Moreover, most of the potential health effects of endocrine disruptors are, in principle, also covered and regulated by existing regulations, regardless of whether the trigger substance actually is an endocrine disruptor or not. This includes substances that are potentially carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction or which interfere with development. Therefore, there is already a very high level of protection for consumers and the risk of taking up a harmful amount of a substance classified as an endocrine disruptor is low.
For plant protection products and biocidal products, the endocrine-disrupting properties are examined and assessed during the approval procedure. If the active substance is determined to be an endocrine disruptor, this constitutes an exclusion criterion (so-called "cut-off" criterion), meaning the active substance will be denied approval. This is unless it can be shown that exposure to that active substance is negligible or that a biocidal product is required to avert serious threats to humans and animals or the environment.
The REACH Regulation provides a framework for the assessment of risks posed by endocrine disruptors to humans and the environment, and their incorporation in consumer products (including mixtures and manufactures) thus endocrine disruptors can be subject to limitations or bans based on an Annex XVII restriction. These restrictions can then be applied to all products on the European market. Endocrine disruptors may also be identified as substances of very high concern (SVHC). Uses of endocrine disruptors identified as SVHC are, therefore, i.e. after inclusion in Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation, subject to approval for all European manufacturers / users. On top of this, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is required to assess the need for and initiate a restriction of the incorporation in consumer products, which includes also all imported goods.
Consumer products such as children's toys are analysed for such substances in order to protect consumers from the harmful effects of endocrine disruptors. For food contact materials, maximum quantities of release from such materials are derived and characterised to be not harmful to human health (migration limit values). No health impairments are expected as long as these values are not exceeded.
The risk assessment carried out by the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety of the European Commission (SCCS) on cosmetic products, too, takes endocrine-disrupting effects into account. Since 2019, substances used in cosmetic products which are suspected to have endocrine effects are re-evaluated with an eye specifically to these potential endocrine effects.
Endocrine disruptors are regulated in different areas at the EU level in an effort to prevent risks to human health and the environment. Specific measures or options for the identification, assessment, and management of endocrine disruptors are provided in the legislation for plant protection products and biocidal products , as well as for chemicals in general under the REACH Regulation , regulations covering cosmetics, regulations for medical devices , and the Water Framework Directive . Where a synthetic substance is found to have endocrine disrupting properties that substance will be subject to regulation in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions in the EU. Moreover, most of the potential health effects of endocrine disruptors are, in principle, also covered and regulated by existing regulations, regardless of whether the trigger substance actually is an endocrine disruptor or not. This includes substances that are potentially carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction or which interfere with development. Therefore, there is already a very high level of protection for consumers and the risk of taking up a harmful amount of a substance classified as an endocrine disruptor is low.
For plant protection products and biocidal products, the endocrine-disrupting properties are examined and assessed during the approval procedure. If the active substance is determined to be an endocrine disruptor, this constitutes an exclusion criterion (so-called "cut-off" criterion), meaning the active substance will be denied approval. This is unless it can be shown that exposure to that active substance is negligible or that a biocidal product is required to avert serious threats to humans and animals or the environment.
The REACH Regulation provides a framework for the assessment of risks posed by endocrine disruptors to humans and the environment, and their incorporation in consumer products (including mixtures and manufactures) thus endocrine disruptors can be subject to limitations or bans based on an Annex XVII restriction. These restrictions can then be applied to all products on the European market. Endocrine disruptors may also be identified as substances of very high concern (SVHC). Uses of endocrine disruptors identified as SVHC are, therefore, i.e. after inclusion in Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation, subject to approval for all European manufacturers / users. On top of this, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is required to assess the need for and initiate a restriction of the incorporation in consumer products, which includes also all imported goods.
Consumer products such as children's toys are analysed for such substances in order to protect consumers from the harmful effects of endocrine disruptors. For food contact materials, maximum quantities of release from such materials are derived and characterised to be not harmful to human health (migration limit values). No health impairments are expected as long as these values are not exceeded.
The risk assessment carried out by the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety of the European Commission (SCCS) on cosmetic products, too, takes endocrine-disrupting effects into account. Since 2019, substances used in cosmetic products which are suspected to have endocrine effects are re-evaluated with an eye specifically to these potential endocrine effects.