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Maximizing Health Benefits Through Strategic Policy Changes: Highlights from AREHNA Brussel EP

This document from the AREHNA Brussel EP in 2004 emphasizes the potential health benefits and environmental impacts of policy decisions. It delves into the costs associated with current policies, including the concentration of harmful substances in breast milk, contamination by PFOS and PFOA, intellectual development disruptions by PCBs, and more. The text underscores the importance of addressing these issues promptly and the necessity of robust policies like REACH to mitigate risks. It calls for close monitoring of chemical substances, urging producers and importers to document safe use conditions and emphasizes the urgency of mandatory substitution to uphold the precautionary principle. Additionally, the document highlights the significance of improving knowledge about environmental and health impacts, especially for vulnerable groups, and calls for increased awareness among health ministries.

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Maximizing Health Benefits Through Strategic Policy Changes: Highlights from AREHNA Brussel EP

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  1. Potential Health Benefits in REACH Environmental Impact on Health - Raising Awareness of Decision Makers, AREHNA Brussel EP, 23 Nov 2004 By Stefan Scheuer

  2. Health Costs of Current Policy • What is the cost of the • increasing concentration of Penta in breast milk? • contamination of humanity by PFOS and PFOA? • disruption of intellectual development by PCBs? • What will the cost be of the next problem chemical to emerge by chance? • What is the value of an uncontaminated foetus? • Do we have to wait until effects are proven and an economic value identified before we can value such a benefit? • 250 mill Euro in 2003 for occupational asthma and skin diseases covered by German employers’ liability insurance associations

  3. What can REACH deliver?.. A redline for unacceptable chemicals.. Substitute use of chemicals, that accumulate/persist in the environment or human body, or have the potential to create irreversible effects (cancer, reproductive damage, hormone disruption) Therefore Close knowledge gap for “old” chemicals (no data no market) Identify substitution candidates and set deadline Engage market forces and guide innovation (transparency, strengthen role of users and retailers and award frontrunners) BUT “adequate control” loophole! the old Risk Assessment methodology

  4. What can REACH deliver?.. ...documented responsibility and“adequate control” for the rest. • Producer/Importer determines, documents and reports safe use conditions along the supply chain (“adequate control”) • User reports uncovered use to registrant or does own saftey assessment or ends the use • BUT insufficient • data for below 10 tonne chemicals and • quality assurance • And outdated Risk Assessment methodology

  5. Conclusion • Huge public health benefits within REACH • David Pearce calculates up to 260 billion Euro in Europe over 20 years • But chemical producers are powerful • Still mass-production concept dominates over quality and service • REACH proposal insufficient to deliver • Current Risk Assessment methods insufficient • Mandatory Substitution needed to implement precautionary principle • For the future: • Investing in improving knowledge about E&H especially addressing vulnerable groups • Health ministries need to wake up!

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