New Chair of ESE’s EDC Working Group
After ten years of leading the EDC Working Group and the wider Society’s activities around EDCs, Josef Köhrle has decided to step down. He will be replaced by Pauliina Damdimopoulou, a long-standing member of the Working Group and former co lead of the Focus Area of Environmental Endocrinology. lead of the Focus Area of Environmental Endocrinology.
We thank Josef Köhrle for his pioneering work in this field and for helping to position the Society as a leading European scientific voice in this area.
REACH shelved
On 27 April 2026, the European Commission shelved the revision of REACH. This decision follows years of delays and extensive debate at the EU level, in which ESE and other medical societies have played an active and important role.
This disappointing development from a public or hormone health perspective signifies another delay in the EU’s evolving chemicals strategy.
The postponement is likely to further slow progress in addressing EDCs and is expected to reignite debate over how the EU balances industrial growth with environmental and public health goals.
ESE in collaboration with the Endocrine Society worked hard to prevent such a development and during meeting in February and March this year with representatives of the different EU Commissioner Cabinets stressed the importance of an ambitious public health focused revision that would help reduce continuous high and increasing exposure to EDCs in Europe.
Chemicals Omnibus – we were close to a major upset of the EU debate
In coordination with the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), ESE came close to triggering a major upset ahead of the European Parliament’s plenary vote on the Chemicals Omnibus package.
In a letter to all Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), the substantial health and environmental risks posed by EDCs were clearly set out with a warning that the European Commission’s proposed simplification measures could weaken existing safeguards for EDCs, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Although the proposal ultimately progressed in line with the compromise agreed at committee level, the vote revealed substantial support within the European Parliament for stronger protections against harmful chemicals. Notably, Amendment 117, which sought to introduce a complete ban on EDCs in cosmetic products, was defeated by just three votes. This narrow margin underscores a growing willingness among MEPs to challenge deregulatory measures that could weaken public health and environmental safeguards.
ESE’s response to the latest consultation of the PFAS restriction proposal
We responded to a public consultation on the latest opinion from ECHA’s Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) on PFAS restrictions:
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ESE supports SEAC’s conclusion that the long-term benefits of reducing PFAS emissions and contamination outweigh the socio-economic challenges associated with substitution and transition.
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In line with the joint 2025 statement issued by ESE, the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Endocrine Society, ESE supports to limit PFAS use to clearly defined essential applications where no safer and technically feasible alternatives are currently available. As soon as an alternative becomes available, the use of PFAS should be phased out.
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We emphasised that, while individuals can take some steps to reduce exposure to EDCs, meaningful reductions at population level require a robust and precautionary EU regulatory framework.
As the restriction process moves towards a final opinion, we will continue pressing policymakers to limit exposure by minimising exemptions for PFAS usage and ensure that transition periods from PFAS to more sustainable alternatives remain tightly defined and evidence based.
What else to expect this year
The EU debate on EDCs (including PFAS) is expected to intensify throughout the rest of 2026. Following the publication of European Chemical's Agency's ( ECHA’s) Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) opinion and the publication of the SEAC opinion towards the end of the year. This paves the way for discussions at European Commission level in 2027 that must decide whether to adopt this opinion or not.
At the same time, negotiations will continue on the Chemicals Omnibus package, where concerns remain that simplification efforts could weaken existing protections against hazardous chemicals, including EDCs. The broader debate over the balance between competitiveness, deregulation and public health protection is likely to remain a key political faultline in Brussels.
We also expect continued discussions on PFAS exemptions, essential-use criteria, transition periods and implementation timelines, as well as growing scrutiny of delays to wider EU chemicals reforms and restrictions under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.
And while REACH has been shelved for now by the European Commission, the expectation is that it will remain a contentious topic of debate with many leading MEPs expressing fierce criticism of the European Commission decision.
04/06/2026
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