Chemicals

The national authorities of Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark agreed to prepare a REACH restriction proposal with the aim to restrict the manufacture, the placing on the market and the use of all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the EU. Companies, scientists and NGOs are invited to fill in the questionnaire, before 31 July 2020, to generate further information.

A research project by the German Environment Agency (UBA) tested 44 potential substitutes for bisphenol A (BPA) for a number of different applications and products. The result: 43 of these substances are not recommended for use, either because they have a hormone-mimicking effect or a lack of data has not conclusively disproved evidence of such an effect.

Higher administrative court review of rulings on pesticides needed urgently.

HBM4EU initiative presents assessment values for phthalates, cadmium and bisphenol A – more to follow

Landscape planning and pest control are among the many tasks which municipalities are charged with in their mandate to protect citizens and maintain infrastructure. It often requires the use of plant protection agents and biocides. A specialist conference hosted by the UBA showed that alternative methods are already making it possible to do without chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

Guidance for planners and operators of refrigeration equipment

The use of poisonous bait to control rats and mice can lead to an unintentional poisoning of pets and wild animals. In addition, most of the chemical substances used are very persistent in the environment and accumulate in organisms. A large number of risk mitigation measures must be taken to prevent these occurrences, for example the use of bait stations.

German Environment Agency presents seven priority areas for action

The Federal Ministry for Environment has presented a plan for the gradual phase-out of the use of the broadband herbicide glyphosate. The Use of Pesticides Ordinance will be amended for this purpose. The German Environment Agency as competent body for the authorisation procedure seeks to make the authorisation of products which harm biodiversity contingent upon certain conditions of their use.

The human biomonitoring initiative known as HBM4EU was launched nearly one year ago with a funding volume of 74 million euros. The project has now decided to take a closer look at nine new substances including mercury, acrylamide, glyphosate and fipronil.

The International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) was launched about one year ago. The guests of an anniversary event held in Bonn represented government, industry, science and civil society praising the Center’s successful start and looked ahead to the future tasks and goals of ISC3.

Pesticides may only be applied on Natura 2000 sites if the procedure has received prior approval for tolerability in accordance with an exacting authorisation procedure under EU nature conservation law. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the German Environment Agency (UBA) have produced a guide for the responsible authorities in the Länder on how to conduct this check.