WECF's views on SCALE, the EU health & environment policy

Protection of women`s health means protecting future generations

15.04.2004 |Marie Kranendonk

The Commission has adopted a new European Strategy for Environment and Health. The new Strategy will focus on the growing concern over the adverse health effects caused by environmental pollution, particularly amongst children. The overall aim of the strategy is to reduce diseases caused by environmental factors in Europe.

WECF notes that in order to achieve this goal we have to better understand and identify health problems related to the environmental degradation, which will allow us to prevent new health threats linked to environmental pollution. Special emphasis will be given to the most vulnerable groups in society, in particular children.

SCALE is a laudable initiative, but WECF is disappointed that the contribution of NGOs is being disregarded. The draft Action Plan omits the need to set up European disease registries; the need for legislation to reduce pesticide dependency; the need to define exclusion criteria for authorisation of pesticides based on intrinsic properties; measures to reduce exposure to non-dioxin like PCBs; and the need to reassess and reduce the risk of organophosphate pesticides. This means that valuable input from environment and health NGOs is missing, and the entire consultation process lacks transparency and legitimacy.

The Environment and Health Strategy has been designed jointly by European Commissioners Margot Wallström (Environment), David Byrne (Health) and Philippe Busquin (Research).

Download the letter to the European Commissioners (doc.).

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