HEJSupport, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Friends of the Earth Canada and Prevent Cancer Now urge the Government of Canada to actively support the development and inclusion of hazard classes for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) within the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Canada has long been a constructive voice within the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS (UN SCEGHS), and its leadership is crucial now to help close a widely recognized global gap in chemical hazard communication.
As outlined in the letter, endocrine disruption remains insufficiently captured in current GHS hazard communication, despite a growing scientific body of evidence and recent regulatory developments. We respectfully encourage Canada to continue and strengthen its constructive engagement in UN processes, including UN SCEGHS (UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS ) discussions and the PHI-IWG (informal working group on Potential Hazard Issues and their presentation in GHS) workstream, and to support a clear roadmap toward the addition of new hazard classes informed by ongoing OECD work.
We would be grateful for the consideration of the letter’s requested actions, including:
· formal support for developing EDC hazard classes under UN GHS;
· transparent and regular national consultations ahead of UN sessions; and
· enabling meaningful participation of civil society and scientific experts in relevant discussions.
