US and EU Endocrine Disruptor Pilot Program

August 28, 2014

    In October, 2014, the European Union (EU) and the United States will start their third pilot program derived from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).  This specific program will test various chemicals to see if they act as endocrine disruptors.  While the details on the program are still vague, this is a step forward in decreasing trade barriers between the US and the EU.  According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the endocrine system is composed of “hormones that are made by the glands and [are] released into the bloodstream or the fluid surrounding cells [and] receptors in various organs and tissues that recognize and respond to the hormones.”  The endocrine disruptors are chemicals that act like a natural hormone, but trick the body to respond in a certain way, such as increasing or decreasing the production of a hormone, over-reacting to a stimulus, or acting at the incorrect moment.

    The US and EU have different regulations regarding chemicals, which negatively impact trade.  The EU policies are more stringent than the US, since the EU bans many chemicals, while the EPA regulates chemical use by allowing a certain amount that is not considered harmful for consumption.  This affects US agricultural exports, since the US sprays their crops with chemicals that are completely prohibited by the EU.  Furthermore, the EU is still amending their definition of an endocrine disruptor. 

    An EPA representative stated that through this pilot program the “goal is to have a harmonized approach to prioritization and screening of chemicals based on endocrine bioactivity and environmental exposure.”

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