EDCs in Germany: WECF is networking for more protection
WECF encourages media, scientists, local communities and national authorities and local communities to take action for more protection from endocrine disrupting chemicals
25.07.2017
Countries: | Germany, Europe |
Donors: | EEHI - European Environment and Health Initiative |
Issues: | Chemicals and Health, EDCs |
Duration: | 05/2017 - 02/2018 |
The overall goal of this project is to protect human health and environment from EDCs. This could have been achieved by strong EDC criteria and a good strategy set by the EU Commission, which both are not existing. So other actions have to be taken to avoid the increase of health impacts related to EDCs. National actions and awareness raising among policy makers, media, scientists, health and social sector, consumers and other multipliers will be main activities among the project. These project aims on networking, specifically between different sectors/stakeholders, for improving the exchange of information, as well as to keep and increase the importance of EDCs on the political agenda and to raise awareness for the public interest.
Objectives and linked activities of the project:
Media in Germany will report about Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)
German media attention on EDCs is still very low. To improve the situation WECF will choose a different approach for reaching media and journalists’ attention. The project aims to install a core group of journalists and to support them with newest scientific research on EDCs.
- WECF gave an interview to ARTE regarding the specific communication in Germany about ECDs. Find the ARTE documentation here (in german)
- Press Statement: Common NGO statement regarding the vote of the first ever EDC criteria - Call on European Parliament to reject flawed criteria for sake of health (in german)
- September 29th / October 2nd 2017: Press information on the voting on EDCS in European Parliament (in German)
- October 4th 2017: Press information -Commission draft on ED criteria failed voting in EU Parliament - NGOs demands improvement of criteria and national action plans (in German)
- Oktober 29th 2017: WECF Interview with Bayerischer Rundfunk on the issue of male fertility and Bisphenol A (in German)
Making the topic of EDCs visible for policy makers and other stakeholders on European and international level
WECF took part at the ExCop of the Basel-Rotterdam-Stockholm Convention, in April and May 2017 in Geneva and the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Environment and Health Process, in June 2017 in Ostrava. In both conferences WECF made the issue of endocrine properties of chemicals substances visible and brought it actively into the political discussions, into the plenaries, the working groups and the relevant documents and declarations.
WECF’s activities at the conferences
- April 23rd until May 5th 2017, COP8 Stockholm Convention
- June 12th until June 15th 2017, 6th Ministerial Conference of the Environment and Health Process in English here and side event on EDCs. More information in German on the Ministerial Conference and the side event on EDCs
Lobby activities
- May 24th, 2017, Common statement: NGOs, including WECF, call on German Government to stand up for strong EDC criteria, more here
- September 22th 2017: WECF Call: Subscribe EDC Petition - Say NO to Endocrine Disruptors!
- September 28th 2017: Environment Committee says NO to draft criteria – Parliament will vote October 4th
- September 29th 2017: NGO Call for Members of European Parliament to refuse the EU Commission’s draft on identifying EDCs
German Scientist and Health sector will talk about EDCs
So far the German scientists are very quiet in terms of scientific and political discussions on EDCs criteria finding and protection from EDCs. Public statements from scientists and their expertise, knowledge and engagement is needed especially in Germany to increase the pressure for policy makers to take more action to protect human and the environment from EDCs. It also should raise scientific based awareness among the public such as media, health insurances, media, etc. Within this project WECF will try to encourage scientist to raise their voice for the need of better protection from EDCs. The German Deutsche Endocrine Society (DGE) demands from policy makers more protection EDCs. WECF welcomes this statement.
Please find more here
Consumers and local authorities know more about EDCs and take action
As long as no strong regulation on EDCs exists, consumers and especially vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children need to be protected from EDCs. WECF will inform multipliers from different sectors such as midwives, people working at children day care institutions and the health sector. WECF will inform consumers at WECF nesting website, which will be updated frequently in the frame of this project. Furthermore WECF will raise awareness on the topic at local authorities in the City of Munich, or other cities and communities. Hazardous Substances (HS) and EDCs are still not on the high level of the agenda. We want to encourage city representatives and city departments to take action in different sectors to reduce exposure from EDCs and other HSs.
- September 20th 2017: WECF informs Health Department of the City of Munich about the impact from EDCs
- September 21st 2017: Berlin - WECF informs members of Berlin’s senate about EDCs
- October 12th 2017: Pro Familia München – Environmental impact on male fertility
This project is financed by the European Environment and Health Project, EEHI.
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