The European Court of Justice confirmed today that the EU illegally allowed dangerous substances for sale in paints when there were safer options – setting a precedent that tightens the screw on companies’ use of toxic chemicals in the EU.
How to reduce animal testing without compromising chemical safety
it’s crucial to investigate the properties of chemicals designed for widespread societal use – preferably before they are put on market. However, we are convinced that much more can be done to further reduce animal testing.
How can we trust that plastic is fantastic if producers keep the ingredients secret?
As always, the devil is lurking in the details. And the details of all plastics are the chemicals they are made of – so called polymers – whose identities have so far remained hidden.
Top 5 things from the Chemical Strategy that will affect your company
Here are five things from the strategy that us folks at ChemSec think will matter the most to businesses. The aim here is to help you to quickly get an idea of what the strategy is and, more importantly, the actual consequences it will have for your company.
We wrote a letter to Ursula von der Leyen
Within days you will sign off the Commission Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability as part of the commitments set out in the Green Deal. On behalf of ChemSec, an environmental NGO promoting safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals, I would like to stress some important issues to make sure the Strategy will deliver on its aim to better protect citizens and the environment against hazardous chemicals.
Tattoos may not be going out of fashion – but toxic inks are about to
Tattoo inks are made up of a complex mix of chemicals that stay in the body for life, and several of these chemicals are known to cause cancer and other negative health effects. In light of this, EU member states recently voted in favour of an EU-wide legislation that would restrict the use of hazardous chemicals in tattoo inks and permanent make-up. The restriction would impose concentration limits for dozens of harmful chemicals.
Company involved in landmark court judgment says it won’t reapply for permission to use lead chromates in paint
Four years ago, the EU Commission granted the Canada-based paint manufacturer Dominion Colour Corporation (DCC) authorisation to use toxic lead chromates in red and yellow paint pigments. According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the company will not reapply for permission to continue selling these pigments in Europe beyond May 2022, when its current authorisation expires.
Chemical Strategy Webinar: EDCs and the cocktail effect
Chemical Strategy Webinar: EDCs and the cocktail effect On the 26th of May, ChemSec organised a webinar. Speaking at the seminar was Dr. Leo Trasande, who did a presentation on EDCs and threshold values, and professor Christina Rudén, who…
Chemicals must play a central role in Europe’s green recovery
For the last month, several important European policy makers have stated that a green and sustainable economy is the right medicine to counter the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. For this ambitious agenda to work, it is, however, important that the chemicals legislation is at its core.
Report reveals questionable links between member states and chemical industry
In a new report, Corporate Europe Observatory takes another stab at the lengthy case of titanium dioxide classification in the European Union, and exposes how member states defend their chemical industries by pushing for weaker legislation.