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Joint Research Centre EUR 30170 EN Public Consultation in the context of a Fitness Check of the EU legislation with regard to Endocrine Disruptors Factual Summary Report
JointResearchCentre
EUR 30170 EN
Public Consultation
in the context of a Fitness Check of the EU legislation with regard to Endocrine Disruptors
Factual Summary Report
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission’s science and knowledge service and provides evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. This report has been produced by the JRC to provide a brief factual overview of the public consultation conducted in context of the Fitness Check of EU legislation pertaining to Endocrine Disruptors. The results and summary presented do not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of this publication.
Contact informationName: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Chemical Safety andAlternative Methods Unit (F3)Address: via E. Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), ItalyEmail: [email protected]
EU Science Hubhttps://ec.europa.eu/jrc
JRC120369
EUR 30170 EN
PDF ISBN 978-92-76-17861-3 ISSN 1831-9424 doi:10.2760/647747
Print ISBN 978-92-76-17862-0 ISSN 1018-5593 doi:10.2760/272057
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020
© European Union, 2020
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How to cite this report: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Public Consultation in the context of a Fitness Check of the EU legislation with regard to Endocrine Disruptors — Factual Summary report, EUR 30170 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2020, ISBN 978-92-76-17861-3, doi:10.2760/647747, JRC120369.
Public Consultation
in the context of a Fitness Check of the EU legislationwith regard to Endocrine Disruptors
Factual Summary Report
PART 1.
Introduction
2
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
Introduction
The European Commission is taking a cross-cutting look at the approach to the assessment and management of endocrine disruptors (EDs) in a broad range of legislation through what is described as a Fitness Check1. The goal is to analyse the coherence of the different approaches to this topic, identify possible gaps and synergies, and assess their collective impact on human health and the environment.
Public consultation is an essential component of the Fitness Check. It aims at gathering inputs from citizens to ensure that views from all interested parties are considered in the evaluation. This ED Fitness Check includes three consultations, a public consultation (designed from a citizen’s perspective) a stakeholder consultation (designed for stakeholders and experts) and a consultation to collect the views of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The aims of this public consultation targeting the general public were:• To assess public concerns and needs with respect to endocrine disruptors in the EU.• To evaluate to what extent current EU legislation meets the concerns and needs of citizens.• To identify opportunities for improvement in the way endocrine disruptors are assessed, managed and potential risks communicated.
The consultation was conducted through the European Commission’s ‘Have your Say’ Better Regulation webportal and was open from 16/12/2019 to 09/03/2020.
1 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/2142-Fitness-Check-on-endocrine-disruptors
3
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
This summary report provides a brief factual overview of the replies received, with information on the respondents as well as the number of responses and range of opinions. The replies gathered through the consultation will help the European Commission to understand the views and perceptions of the general public on the issue of endocrine disruptors and will make an important contribution to the Fitness Check of the current legislation. A more detailed analysis of the responses to all three consultations will be published in a synopsis report at the end of the process.
PART 2.
Who responded to the survey
5
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
Respondents
A total of 474 respondents provided an answer, of which 90% are EU citizens, 3% are academic/research institutions and 2% non-governmental organisations.
As regards the origin of the respondents participating to the survey, we received most answers from France (40%), Germany (17%), Spain (14%), Belgium (5%) and Finland (5%).
474respondents
40%
17% 14%
5% 5%France Germany Spain Belgium Finland
90%
3%
2%
EU citizens
academic/research institutions
non-governmental organisations
Public consultation on endocrine disruptors
19%
Others
PART 3.
What did the respondents say?
7
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
Information on endocrine disruptors
A majority of the respondents consider themselves to be very well informed (14%) or reasonably well informed (49%) about endocrine disruptors, as opposed to feeling poorly informed (31%) or not informed at all (6%).
The main sources of information on endocrine disruptors used by the respondents are specialised scientific sources (246), general news coverage (222), social media (178), education and training sources (131) and other sources (118).
A majority of the respondents feel informed about the decisions made in the EU with regard to endocrine disruptors (11% very well informed; 57% somewhat informed). A minority (21%) do not feel informed, but trust regulators to keep them safe, while 11% replied that they do not know.
Fifty-four percent of the respondents do not think that the effects on endocrine disruptors on public health and the environment are understood and 38% think the effects are understood to a certain extent as opposed to 5% that think effects are not understood.
Effectiveness of EU laws
As presented in the next figure, the majority of respondents (58% to 73%) considered that EU laws did not protect them at all or only to a small extent from exposure to endocrine disruptors across all of the potential exposure sources listed in the survey. The four exposure sources where respondents consider that EU laws protect them the least are clothing, electric and electronic equipment, detergents and outdoor air.
8
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
182
168
167
163
157
153
153
136
124
113
107
62
164
140
154
161
190
196
182
124
132
195
172
19
50
54
71
73
79
72
79
101
83
108
121
12
20
20
20
15
20
24
16
42
45
29
36
1
53
88
57
58
24
25
37
67
88
23
34
108
5
4
5
4
4
4
7
4
2
6
4
272
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Clothes
Electric and electronicequipment
Detergents
Outdoor air
Food contact materialsincluding packaging
(e.g. plastic films, pizza boxes)
Personal care products(e.g. cosmetics, personal hygiene)
Home or office(e.g. furnishing, flooring, paints)
Medicines
Medical devices(e.g. prostheses, stents,
bandages, dental fillings)
Food and beverages
Drinking water (tap water)
Others (please specify)
IN YOUR OPINION, TO WHICH EXTENT DO EU LAWS PROTECT YOU FROM EXPOSURE TO ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS THROUGH:
Not al all To a small extent To a moderate extent Fully Don't know No Answer
9
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
Sixty-one percent of the respondents consider that they are less protected by EU laws from endocrine disruptors than from other toxic chemicals, such as carcinogenic or mutagenic substances, or substances toxic to reproduction with 20% considering that they are protected to the same extent.
As presented in the figure below, in general, over 60% of respondents consider that EU laws offer a low level of protection for one or more life stages with the highest number of respondents concerned about adolescents (75%) and the lowest numbers concerned about pregnant women, foetuses and newborns (62% to 66%).
13
13
14
17
22
15
25
30
34
59
80
58
76
70
64
88
98
105
355
345
342
339
329
322
312
302
296
42
33
56
39
48
66
45
39
36
5
3
4
3
5
7
4
5
3
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Adolescents
Adults in general
Elderly
Children until puberty
People at work
People with illnesses
Unborn through exposureduring pregnancy
Pregnant women
Newborn up to the age of 3
High level of protection Moderate level of protection Low level of protectionDon't know No Answer
THE ENDOCRINE (HORMONAL) SYSTEM CONTROLS A LARGE NUMBER OF PROCESSES IN THE BODY THROUGHOUT LIFE FROM EARLY STAGES SUCH AS EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT
AND PUBERTY, TO LATER ONES SUCH AS REPRODUCTIVE LIFE AND OLD AGE. CONSIDERING DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES, IN YOUR OPINION HOW WELL DO EU LAWS
PROTECT CITIZENS FROM EFFECTS OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS?
10
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
Ninety-three percent of respondents believe that endocrine disruptors contribute to a large or moderate extent to some human diseases or health conditions such as infertility, cancer or obesity.
From 72% to 81% of respondents consider that EU laws offer a low level of protection for wildlife such as insects, including bees and other pollinators (81%), fish and amphibians (80%), other invertebrates, such as snails, shrimps or worms (79%), birds and reptiles (76%), mammals (74%) and plants (72%).
A majority of respondents expressed the view that the EU should have the same approach or the same approach to the extent possible across regulatory sectors for both identifying endocrine disruptors (86%) and managing the risks of exposure to endocrine disruptors (84%).
Many of the respondents are of the opinion that endocrine disruptors are insufficiently identified across a range of sectors, particularly in furnishing and electrical and electronic equipment (see next figure).
11
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
11
15
16
21
17
16
23
17
21
20
25
31
89
82
140
141
136
127
150
151
153
147
121
128
207
177
200
196
176
173
186
178
181
187
157
155
90
100
72
62
72
73
58
67
51
42
62
48
69
92
40
44
64
75
48
54
62
71
98
103
8
8
6
10
9
10
9
7
6
7
11
9
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Furnishings (home/office)
Electrical and electronic equipment
Food contact materials
Personal care products
Detergents
Fertilisers
Toys
Food additives
Pesticides
Biocides
Medical devices
Human and veterinary medicines
IN YOUR OPINION, TO WHICH EXTENT DO EU LAWS ALLOW FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS IN THE FOLLOWING SECTORS?
Endocrine disruptors are all identified Endocrine disruptors are partially identifiedFew are identified None are identifiedDon't know No Answer
12
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
As presented in the figure below, the majority of respondents are also of the opinion that EU laws insufficiently manage the risks linked to endocrine disruptors across all sectors. For example, the number of respondents considering that endocrine disruptors are not well managed in the pesticide sector is 73% compared with 15% who think endocrine disruptors are well managed or fairly well managed and 12% who do not know or did not reply. For medical devices, 53% of respondents consider that endocrine disruptors are not well managed compared with 22% who think that they are well managed or fairly well managed and 25% who do not know or did not reply.
14
13
13
9
10
15
10
9
11
18
27
24
59
56
79
48
76
75
53
70
43
103
77
80
344
330
330
329
327
325
324
318
304
294
252
250
50
66
45
80
50
52
79
70
108
53
110
114
7
9
7
8
11
7
8
7
8
6
8
6
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Pesticides
Biocides
Food contact materials
Fertilisers
Personal care products
Food additives
Furnishings (home/office)
Detergents
Electrical and electronicequipment
Toys
Human and veterinarymedicines
Medical devices
IN YOUR OPINION, TO WHICH EXTENT DO EU LAWS MANAGE THE RISKS TO ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS IN THE FOLLOWING SECTORS?
Well managed Fairly well managed Not well managed Don't know No Answer
13
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
Regulatory testing and animal welfare
Thirty-seven percent of the respondents think that animal testing for endocrine disrupting properties in the EU is insufficiently minimised, whereas 28% consider animal testing to be fully minimised (5%) or minimised to the extent possible (23%). Thirty-five percent replied that they do not know.
Efficiency of EU laws
Forty-four percent of the respondents consider that the costs (e.g. time, resources, use of laboratory animals) of EU laws on endocrine disruptors are proportionate for the benefits accrued compared with 26% who consider costs are only to a small extent or not at all proportionate. Thirty percent replied that they do not know.
In general, the respondents consider that EU laws on endocrine disruptors generate slightly more costs for the agricultural and industrial sectors compared with costs to citizens or ethical costs (see next figure).
14
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
As illustrated in the figure below, EU laws on endocrine disruptors are believed to generate benefits for the EU market by about half of the respondents (49% agree fully or to a moderate extent, while 24% agree to a small extent or don’t agree at all and 27% don’t know or didn’t reply). Opinion is also divided on the extent to which EU laws on endocrine disruptors are seen to benefit human health and wildlife.
26
33
58
66
12
124
134
117
75
1
122
125
78
73
5
56
49
75
81
26
140
126
135
170
120
6
7
11
9
310
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Costs for the agriculturalsector
Costs for the industrysector
Costs for citizens
Ethical costs
Other (please specify)
IN YOUR OPINION, TO WHICH EXTENT DO EU LAWS ON ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS GENERATE:
Not al all To a small extent only To a moderate extent Fully Don't know No Answer
41
59
30
143
146
85
97
67
114
145
144
117
43
52
117
5
6
11
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Human health
Wildlife
EU market
IN YOUR OPINION, TO WHICH EXTENT DO EU LAWS ON ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS GENERATE BENEFITS FOR:
Not at all To a small extent only To a moderate extent Fully Don't know No Answer
15
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
Added value of EU laws
In terms of which bodies should regulate to protect people and wildlife from harm caused by endocrine disruptors, most respondents expressed the view that this should be done by EU authorities (432), and many respondents considered that national authorities (356), international organisations (292) and local/regional authorities (238) should act.
For this question, the numbers of respondents are given, rather the percentage values, since it was possible to select more than one option. The breakdown of responses (based on the number of choices chosen by respondents) is given in the following diagram.
326
58
151
238
4
74
127151
356
40
114127
151
432
7
5678
151
292
One choice Two choices Three choices Four choices Total
IN YOUR OPINION, WHO SHOULD REGULATE TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE FROM HARM CAUSED BY ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS?
Local/regional authorities National authorities EU authorities International organisations
16
This document should be regarded solely as a summary of the contributions made by respondents to the public consultation on the Fitness Check of the EU legislation on endocrine disruptors. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the European Commission or its services.
Relevance of EU laws
In terms of areas where the EU needs to significantly step up its efforts, the respondents prioritised as follows: reducing exposure of humans (88%), reducing exposure to wildlife (84%), identifying endocrine disruptors (80%), and adopting a coherent approach to identification and management of endocrine disruptors (79%). Fewer respondents consider that a lot of efforts are needed by the EU to reduce the burdens and costs to business (30%).
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doi:10.2760/647747ISBN 978-92-76-17861-3
KJ-NA-30170-EN
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