Policy Activities

WECF promotes a “Healthy Environment for All” focussing specifically on protecting children’s and women’s environmental health. A key part of achieving this aim is by working towards a toxic-free future, through WECF’s programme “Safe Chemicals and Waste”.

WECF’s overall goal is that by 2020 all consumer products on the market in the EU and the pan-European region are free of harmful chemicals, meaning free of chemicals that are persistent, bio-accumulative, toxic (PBT), very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative (vPvB), carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic to reproduction (CMR), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and neurotoxins.

WECF raises awareness about emerging environmental health issues, and signals concerns and problems from society to policy makers. WECF monitors policy developments in the area of nanotechnology, biocides, endocrine disruptors, asbestos, chemicals in products.

WECF has 3 programmes for safe chemicals and waste:

Protecting Children’s and Women’s Environmental Health
Strengthening chemical and waste legislative frameworks globally
Substituting and eliminating hazardous substances and processes

Within these 3 programmes, WECF participates in chemical and health policy programmes at national, European and International levels.

International Policy Processes

Environment and Health process (WHO-Euro)
Children’s Environmental Health Action Plan (WHO-Euro)
SAICM Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management and IFCS (UNEP)
Stockholm, Rotterdam and Basel Conventions
UN Commission for Sustainable Development cycle 18
International Mercury Treat (UNEP)

EU Policy

REACH Registration Evaluation Authorization of Chemicals
RoHS Directive Restriction of Hazardous Substances
Biocides
Pesticides
Eco-Design and Eco Label
Toys Safety
Environment and Health Action Plan- EHAP
Indoor Air Quality
Nanotechnology
Endocrine Disruptors
Cosmetics