The European Commission recently released a draft for establishing specific criteria on endocrine disruptors.
The draft shows a lean towards precaution instead of solid scientific principles including previous endocrine policy programs and well-researched data from peers worldwide.
The Environmental Protection Agency differs from the European Commission by following a risk-based approach when regulating pesticides through a program called the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program.
“The U.S.’s risk-based approach to crop protection products is founded in strong science, ensuring farmers have access to the most advanced tools and technology, while protecting human and environmental health,” CropLife America CEO and President Jay Vroom said. “It is unfortunate that European farmers may no longer have access to much-needed crop protection products, and that U.S. producers could be subject to import restrictions on crops and commodities grown using these important tools.”
The U.S. was the first nation to pass endocrine disruptor requirements in pesticide and drinking water as well as investing in public and private implementation of these policies. On the flip side, the European Commission’s hazard-based approach does not take into account the risk of potency, exposure or the beneficial effects, only the intrinsic properties of a chemical.
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