ECHA publish guidance on identifying substances with endocrine disrupting properties

The European Commission had tasked ECHA and EFSA with developing harmonised guidance to ensure that the endocrine disruptor criteria adopted by the EU in 2017 are applied consistently for the assessment of biocides and pesticides in the EU. ECHA is responsible for the assessment of biocides and EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) is the agency of the European Union that advises on existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain which includes active substances used in pesticides.

The two agencies began working on the guidance in 2017 in close consultation with stakeholders and endocrine disruptor experts, including those from EU Member States. The guidance, now completed, will be used for the assessment of biocides from 7 June 2018. For pesticides, it will be used in the assessments of those substances for which a decision is scheduled on or after 10 November 2018. EFSA explains that this is because the criteria for identifying endocrine disruptors in pesticides were agreed later than those for biocides.

Here is a link to the guidance: Guidance for the identification of endocrine disruptors in the context of Regulations (EU) No 528/2012 and (EC) No 1107/2009