Hampshire WI And World Wildlife Fund Petition Brussels To Back Testing Of Everday Chemicals

1.52.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 16th Mar 2004

Chris Huhne MEP speaking at the presentation of the petition with Vitaliano Gemelli MEP, Chairman of the Petitions Committee.

Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne joined a Women's Institute and World Wildlife Fund delegation as they presented their 65,000 signature petition to the European Parliament calling for a phase out of hazardous chemicals.

The delegation, which included Hampshire members Judy Bacon, Margo Foulds and Linda Turner, supports a Commission proposal that would test about 30,000 chemicals in daily use that have never been subjected to proper scrutiny. The so-called REACH proposals are opposed by businesses that fear the regulatory cost of the testing.

However, many volunteers in the World Wildlife Fund´s biomonitoring tour last year were alarmed by the extent of man-made chemicals traced in their blood. The tour tested blood samples for 77 artificial chemicals found in everyday products, such as carpets, food and TV sets. These test results were today also presented to MEPs.

Chris Huhne said, "Some of the blood samples showed traces of a chemical (DDT) that had been banned in the 1960s. It is incredible that they can still be detected over 40 years later and it is particularly worrying since they can also be passed from mother to child".

In November, the Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström took part in the survey which recorded 28 artificial chemicals to which she had been exposed and had accumulated in her body.

"These tests remind us how vulnerable and exposed we are, and how important the Commission's new chemical proposal is" said Mr Huhne.

Chris Huhne said it was now entirely reasonable to tackle the backlog of untested chemicals - new chemicals are already tested - given that we had no understanding of the potential risks, and given that chemicals can accumulate over time with potentially devastating effects.

'Potential risks for humans from the cocktail of untested chemicals include cancer, birth defects, allergies, skin disorders and disruption to the hormonal system. There are fears that the consequences for wildlife on the planet may be even greater´ said Mr Huhne.

'Clearly the costs of testing must not be such as to drum legitimate businesses out of activities that they have undertaken for many years, but many businesses welcome these proposals because they will assess and therefore limit risks. At present, a business that uses a potentially lethal chemical could face damages claims from customers and employees.

´For example, businesses have already had to pay out millions of pounds in claims against them for damage caused by benzene and also aromatic amines. In addition, untested chemicals lead to health problems that are estimated to cost health systems about €50 billion a year´ said Mr Huhne.

'We have to use this opportunity to tackle growing concern about the long term consequences of chemicals on health and the environment. Tackling the backlog of untested chemicals is long overdue'.

Ends