Coop Denmark & EU retail giants pressure EU Commission to ban hormone disrupting chemicals

Coop Denmark together with other EU retail giants IKEA, H&M, Skanska, Sweden Byggindustrier and British Kingfisher, have sent a joint letter to the European Commission urging the EU to put an end to the use of endocrine disrupting chemicals in products due to a concern for the health and safety of the consumer.

The EU Commission has been delaying the process of adopting protective criteria for hormone-disrupting chemicals for more than two years. Although the substances are legal, they have been suspected of contributing to various health issues and illnesses such as cancer, infertility and diabetes.

Nonfood Quality Manager Malene Teller Blume commented: “We know that there is substantial lobbying in the EU done by companies that do not wish to see regulation in this area. It is therefore important, that companies like us, who are fighting against endocrine disruptors, put pressure on the EU”.

A common definition for identifying the hormone disruptors is vital as the criteria will be essential in prohibiting these substances. Citing strict requirements for coop’s own-brand products, Executive Vice President Jens Visholm sees the need for EU’s involvement to ensure an accelerated and broader phase-out of harmful substances.

Coop has worked extensively to eliminate the suspected harmful substances, including parabens, and fluorinated compounds. Coop is also putting pressure on other brands to remove the substances, however the effect will be more imminent if the EU implements more protective criteria.  

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On 15th June, European Commission presented criteria to identify endocrine disruptors on a strong science-based approach. It has presented two draft legislations with scientific criteria which “will allow for a more accurate identification of chemical substances which are endocrine disruptors, in the plant protection products and biocides areas”.