UNEP’s project on Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDCs) for 2015–2019: Provision of Information on EDCs Geneva, 25 September2015 Third Meeting of the EDC Advisory Group for UNEP Chemicals and Waste Branch Division of Trade, Industry, and Economics United Nations Environment Programme

ICCM 3 At its third session in 2012, the International Conference on Chemicals Management agreed on EDCs as an emerging policy issue and adopted a resolution calling for cooperative actions  to provide up-to-date information and scientific expert advice to relevant stakeholders; raise awareness and facilitate science- based information exchange; provide international support for activities to build capacity to support decision-making (including the prioritization of actions to reduce risks), and facilitate mutual support in research, the development of case studies and advice on translation of research results into control actions. UNEP, WHO and OECD together developed a joint workplan, with UNEP’s focus on the environmental exposure and impact of EDCs.

UNEP’s Past Activities In 2013, UNEP and WHO together published “State of the Science of EDCs – 2012” and accompany “Summary for Decision Makers”. In 2013–2014, UNEP organized four regional awareness raising workshops, in collaboration with WHO and OECD, back-to-back with the SAICM Regional Meetings. These workshops highlighted the lack of specific knowledge on EDCs and the need of cooperative actions among sectors in the regions.

Regional Resolutions At the SAICM Regional Meetings in the Africa, Asian and Pacific, and Latin America and Caribbean regions, regional resolutions on EDCs were adopted, respectively.  invite UNEP and WHO to develop a report on EDCs in each region with regional input that is targeted to the situation and needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition;  recommend a robust series of awareness raising activities on EDCs to take place in respective regional languages;  recommend a set of case studies in five topics;  encourage all stakeholders to provide all available data using the Strategic Approach clearinghouse on the endocrine disrupting properties of all substances in commerce.

UNEP’s Current Activities UNEP is further working on translation and dissemination of the Summary for Decision Makers, further development of its website to give an overview of most relevant scientific and regulatory information on EDCs, and development of awareness raising materials.

UNEP’s Project in 2015–2019 In October 2014, UNEP management approved the project preparation phase for a project on EDCs in 2015–2019 under its Chemicals and Waste Subprogramme. A full project document (ProDoc) was developed between October 2014 and April It was revised based on comments from internal and external experts, including regional Chemicals and Waste coordinators and relevant stakeholder groups, between April and July The final ProDoc was approved by UNEP management and started to be implemented in August 2015.

Elements of the ProDoc Problem tree & objective tree Theory of Change Project outcomes Project outputs Project implementation plan

Problem Tree

Objective Tree

Theory of Change

Project Outcomes This project has two implementation phases with one project outcome targeted for each phase: For 2015–2017: [i] increase and improve intergovernmental and intersectoral understanding, coordination and cooperation as well as awareness in developing and transition countries. For 2018–2019: [ii] increase and improve technical capacities in developing and transition countries in addressing EDCs.

Expected Accomplishment It will contribute to the achievement of the following Expected Accomplishment within UNEP’s Programme of Work: “Countries increasingly have the necessary institutional capacity and policy instruments to manage chemicals and waste soundly including the implementation of related provisions in the Multilateral Environmental Agreements”

Project Outputs (1) For the current implementation phase: 1.Compile and disseminate overview reports that focus on existing scientific knowledge of environmental exposure and impact, legislation, measures and gaps regarding known and selected potential EDCs, including information from developing and transition countries; 2.Generate and disseminate situation and gap analysis reports on the state-of-the-art methodologies and tools for assessing the environmental hazards and risks as well as the environmental exposure of EDCs based on relevant expert workshops;

Project Outputs (2) 3.Facilitate annual international meetings, where relevant actors meet for exchanging information on past and ongoing actions and discussing about future actions to address specific emerging issues; 4.Support the design of generic awareness raising materials and the rolling out of region-specific awareness raising campaigns; 5.Support selected developing and transition countries to draft GEF project proposals on appropriate assessment and management of EDCs.

Project Implementation Arrangements

Acknowledgement The Government of Denmark is gratefully acknowledged for its generous financial support of the project preparation. The Governments of Denmark, Norway and Sweden are gratefully acknowledged for their generous financial support for the future project activities

For more information Please contact Telephone: Chemicals Branch Division of Technology, Industry and Economics UNEP International Environment House Chemin des Anémones CH 1219 Châtelaine Geneva, Switzerland Thank you for your attention!

Discussion General comments Contribution; what can I do to help? Moving forward in the face of uncertainties Working together Next steps ICCM4

EDC Definition What are EDCs? IPCS 2002 definition: “An endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance or mixture that alters function(s) of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny, or (sub)populations.” Where they might be found? In plastics, pesticide formulation, solvents, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, electronic devices, household furniture, cleaning products, coating, construction materials, etc…

The intrinsic complexity of the issue Multiple chemical groups are potentially involved, including pesticides, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, degradation products and natural compounds; these groups have different life-cycle and exposure routes. Multiple modes-of-action (MOAs) are involved; only a part can be readily tested and assessed. Moreover, a substance may have one or more MOAs. Multiple knowledge gaps need to be filled, including mixture effects, low-dose effects, proof of causality, species differences, etc.