WWF - Publications

Navigating REACH

2007-08-29

In 1998, at an informal meeting of the Environment Ministers of EU Member States in Chester, UK, Ministers expressed their concern about the lack of action on hazardous substances and highlighted the need for a new policy on chemicals.

This was the beginning of what became known as REACH – a new regulation on chemicals which would shift frompermissive and patchy legislation to a more comprehensive system based on sound information and the precautionary principle. The regulation was intended to improve the protection of human health and the environment fromthe adverse effects of hazardous chemicals.

This handbook aims to explain how REACH will work, what main issues are at stake and how the law will be implemented, i.e. put into practice by the authorities. The guide also highlights opportunities to make the most of REACH by using the new provisions that were fought for – and the opportunities to improve the legislation. It points to provisions and mechanisms that NGOs and citizens can use to promote safer chemicals and lead
ultimately to better protection of human health and the environment fromt he adverse impact of hazardous chemicals.

My Voice: How You Can Demand Better Protection of Human Health and the Environment from Hazardous Chemicals

2007-05-29

Are you concerned about hazardous chemicals in the environment, and how they may be affecting your health?

Did you know that a new EU law on how chemicals are regulated has come into force?

Known as REACH, this law took nearly nine years to develop, and provoked 'the fiercest lobbying battle in EU history' mainly between the chemical industry and groups representing the interests of health and the environment. During the development of REACH, many people, maybe even you, contacted their governments and representatives in the EU asking for better protection of human health and the environment from the adverse impacts of hazardous chemicals.

Download the brochure and find out how you can demand better protection of human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals (PDF format)

"Could Try Harder" - Green 10 mid-term review of the European Commission

2007-04-27

As they did with the previous Commission, the Green 10 coalition of environmental organisations has produced a mid-term assessment of the Barroso Commission's record in honouring its obligations to protect and improve the environment, as specified in the Treaty. This review presents a critique of the past two-and-a-half years, plus a 'to-do' list for the rest of its term.

DetoX - Campaigning for safer chemicals

2007-01-15

After years of chemicals mismanagement resulting in the widespread contamination of wildlife, humans and the environment, WWF saw REACH as a unique opportunity to close the knowledge gap on chemicals and secure a safer management system for chemicals in Europe. Influencing the content of the much debated REACH legislation and facing one of the biggest and most powerful industries in Europe over 3 years was certainly a challenge. This 12-page brochure gives an overview of the DetoX campaign carried out by WWF during the entire REACH legislative process.

Environmental contaminants and breast cancer: the growing concerns about endocrine disrupting chemicals

2006-10-18

The realisation that natural hormones play a role in breast cancer has led to renewed concerns about chemicals with hormonal activities found in food, personal care products or as environmental contaminants. It is still not possible to be certain that hormone or endocrine disrupting chemicals play a role in breast cancer, but two findings have emerged from recent scientific research that increase the biological plausibility that this might be the case. These are (a) the importance of the combined action of several chemicals – the "cocktail effect" – and (b) the existence of critical periods early in life and during development in the womb that make women particularly sensitive to breast cancer-causing factors.

In the light of this new evidence, the role of chemicals in breast cancer requires urgent attention, and precautionary action is warranted to reduce exposure. This briefing explains the role of oestrogens in breast development, and the evidence for suggesting that man-made chemicals may be implicated in the increased incidence of breast cancer.

Chain of contamination

2006-09-21

Download the report

Download the executive summary

Download factsheets on:

• REACH, the new EU chemicals legislation
• Alkylphenols food
• Organochlorine (OC) pesticides food
• Organotins food
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) food
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) food
• Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) food
• Phthalates food
• Synthetic musks food

WWF video on the proposed new EU chemicals law (REACH)

2006-09-05

Four leading Members of the European Parliament feature in a WWF video on the proposed new EU chemicals law (REACH).

The video shows 4 Members of the European Parliament with a secret to confess... they have been exposed to hazardous chemicals. They are: Guido Sacconi (Italy), rapporteur on REACH and member of the Socialist Party; Péter Olajos (Hungary), European People's Party; Chris Davies (UK), Alliance of Liberals and Democrats; Riitta Myller (Finland), Socialist Party.

Authorisation of PB(T)s – Significant Flaws identified in the Council text

2006-09-01

For persistent and bioaccumulative substances to enter authorisation they must first be identified according to Article 56(d) or (e) - the detailed criteria are then set out in Annex XIII. However, it has been realised that many internationally recognised PB(T)s - including some proposed UNEP POPs - will actually not meet the Annex XIII criteria.

Of the 2,767 existing High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals, 43 chemicals or groups are potential or agreed PB(T)s . At the Stakeholder Expert Group of RIP 3.2.2 it has been stated that out of the ones that are agreed to be PB(T)s, only 1 substance could be said to meet the Annex XIII criteria because this Annex dictates a restricted number of test methods which must be used to judge whether the criteria are met.

Therefore, those PB(T)s that are not identified according to articles 56(d) or (e) will need to enter authorisation via the chemicals of 'equivalent concern' route (article 56(f)) - the so-called safety net. Yet the Council text sets too high a burden of evidence for the safety net to be considered effective.

Chemical Contamination in the Mediterranean: the case of swordfish

2006-08-29

For the first time WWF has detected the presence of brominated flame retardant chemicals in Mediterranean swordfish from the Italian coast. PBDE - or polybrominated diphenyl ethers - are a very persistent and bio-accumulative type of flame retardant previously used in computers, TVs and carpets. Despite most of them being banned in the EU, traces are still found in swordfish off the Mediterranean coast. This new evidence makes strengthening the proposed new EU chemicals law (REACH) all the more urgent.

This new WWF report, divided into two parts, aims at showing how chemicals are building up in the Mediterranean Sea and its wildlife.

The first part presents the results of new analytical investigations on Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius), carried out by the research group of Professor Focardi of the University of Siena, Italy. By analysing the presence of older (those already banned for decades such as DDT) but also newer chemical compounds in swordfish tissues, the present study makes a significant contribution to the existing scientific literature, which until now has mainly focused on already restricted compounds -such as polychlorinated pesticides or dioxins and dioxin-like compounds.

The second part reviews the most interesting scientific studies, concluding that contamination of Mediterranean wildlife is already a serious cause for concern. In fact, many persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals have been linked to possible serious health effects on wildlife, people and entire ecosystems, e.g. by altering sexual and neurological development, reproduction and immune systems.

DetoX Campaign Factsheet: Animal Testing and REACH

2006-07-04

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have safer chemicals and a healthier future for wildlife and people. REACH offers a chance to identify and phase out the worst chemicals. New markets for safer products, and increased trust, should make it good news for the chemical industry too.

Wildlife and people are exposed to thousands of chemicals that lack basic safety information. Eighty-six per cent of the 2500 chemicals used in large quantities do not have enough safety information publicly available to do a basic safety assessment. Many are known to be potentially dangerous. Some can interfere with the hormone systems of animals and humans. Others do not break down in nature, but accumulate in our bodies. Chemicals are increasingly suspected of being linked to cancers, allergies and reproductive problems.

Read more in the attached factsheet.

Cloudy Skies, Chance for Sun

2006-05-09

Despite official resistance to the new EU chemicals law (REACH), pressure is mounting in the United Sates for a reform of its own chemicals policy.

The new paper "Cloudy Skies, Chance of Sun: A Forecast for U.S. Reform of Chemicals policy," prepared by The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in Washington with the support of WWF, describes how state and local governments, businesses and civil society are already starting to change the way the U.S. deals with hazardous chemicals.

Briefing on including endocrine disrupting chemicals in Authorisation (REACH)

2006-04-19

WWF briefing on European Commission study "Benefits of Reach"

2006-02-15

NGOs key priorities for REACH second reading

2006-02-04

Will REACH be a wasted opportunity for making chemicals safe in the EU or will it be a first step towards the protection of human health and the environment from the most hazardous chemicals? This is the political choice European legislators have to make in the coming months. NGOs think that there is little left from the already weak original proposal and call for the following four points to be safeguarded in the REACH legislation to deliver a minimum level of protection to citizens and the environment.

Read more in the attached position paper.

Generations X

2005-10-06

Generations X - summary

2005-10-06

Since 2003, WWF has carried out several biomonitoring surveys to raise awareness of the extent of chemical pollution in Europe.

They are intended to stimulate discussion over the need to bring unregulated hazardous chemicals under control in order to protect wildlife and people.

In total, WWF has analysed the blood of around 350 people,
including Members of the European Parliament, EU ministers, scientists, celebrities, and families throughout Europe.

In all cases, the results have shown that people are contaminated with a cocktail of persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic man-made chemicals.

• Out of the 107 chemicals looked for, 73 were found in the blood of the participants. The highest number was detected in the grandmother's generation (63), but the younger generation had more chemicals in their bodies (59) than their mothers (49).

• The median numbers of chemicals in the different generations are 32 for grandmothers, 29 for mothers and 24 for children.

• Each person (grandmother, mother and child) was contaminated with a cocktail of at least 18 man-made chemicals, many found in everyday consumer goods. Some of the chemicals found, like PCBs and DDT, have been banned for decades in the EU but continue to contaminate new generations.

• With only 2 exceptions, chemicals of all the main groups were found in the blood of every person, including children as young as 12.

• The grandmothers were more contaminated with older, banned chemicals such as organochlorine pesticides and PCBs. "Newer" chemicals such as the brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated chemicals and artificial musks were found more frequently and at higher levels in the younger generations.

Briefing: small amounts of man-made chemicals in human bodies - a cause for concern

2005-09-15

A Present for Life: hazardous chemicals in umbilical cord blood

2005-09-08

REACH: Myths exposed

2005-08-19

REACH impact assessments: Assessing EU Environmental Policy Impacts

2005-06-02