Chemicals are everywhere: in textile, chemicals, or toys! While useful, chemicals can trigger allergies and respiratory disease, posing a real health risk to consumers. Within a context where scientific knowledge and regulation lag behind industrial practice, EFA follows the regulatory process as official stakeholder to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

In 2019, EFA advocated for the need for clear, on-pack information of the new 62 fragrances allergens recognised by the European Commission. In the ECHA public consultation on skin sensitisers often present in textile and leather products, we provided our insight and support to the European Environmental Bureau in their calls for the restriction of these substances as potentially harmful for consumers with skin allergies. Finally, we also brought the patients perspective at ECHA’s Annual Workshop in March, and the EU Chemicals Policy 2030 Conference and the Safer Chemicals Conference in Helsinki, both in May.

Thank you!

Sincere thanks for their valuable contributions to the EFA responses in official public consultations to the Food Allergy and the Allergy & Asthma Working Groups/ Food Allergy Italia, the Belgian Asthma and Allergy Association, the Spanish Association of People with Food and Latex Allergy, and the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association, as well as the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, for their scientific input.