A long-term programme of action to restrict the use of pharmaceutical products that are endocrine disrupters and damage reproduction in humans and wildlife has been announced by the European Commission.
In the short term, the commission is to identify endocrine disrupting substances and then ask European Community countries to restrict their use. Later, it is to develop an EC testing strategy and to try to identify less-harmful substitutes.
In the longer term, the commission is to consider amending European laws on chemicals, health, the environment and consumer protection, to take account of the risk posed by endocrine disrupters.