18 international environmental and health organisations have come together this week to co-sign a letter to MEP Glenis Willmott, seeking her support for an amendment to the European Commission (EC) Regulation Proposal on Medical Devices in the upcoming trialogue negotiations between the European Parliament (EP), the Luxembourg and Dutch Presidencies of the European Council, and the European Commission. 

^{Joint letter from 18 NGOs to MEP Glenis Willmott}

The amendment (AM 355) states that chemicals that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMRs), such as certain phthalates and metals, or that have endocrine disrupting properties (EDCs), such as phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA), and which are contained in medical devices that are invasive or come into contact with the body of patients of are used to administer, transport or store medicines, bodily fluids or other substances, shall be banned. Safer alternatives for almost all medical devices are available on the market and are already used by many healthcare institutions in Europe [1]. 

The goal of healthcare is to “first, do no harm” to people and the environment. Strong scientific evidence shows the toxicity of medical devices containing BPA and phthalates. 

Speaking about the initiative, HCWH Europe Policy Director Grazia Cioci said: "Today there is a concrete opportunity for the European Parliament to lead the change and make a major contribution to the phase-out of CMRs and EDCs in medical devices when safer alternatives are available and technically feasible. We look to the EP to represent the interests of people and the environment by enabling European healthcare to become safer." 

You can read the letter to MEP Glenis Willmott here.

In conjunction with this letter, we have also produced an infographic looking at EDCs in healthcare, the diseases associated with exposure to EDCs, and the opportunities for the European healthcare sector. You can view the infographic here.

^{EDC-Free Healthcare Infographic}