March 30, 2000 / Reuters
BRUSSELS -- European Union environment ministers were cited as calling for
speedy action Thursday to identify and possibly phase out hormone-mimicking
chemicals which can damage human and animal health.
Ministers were quoted as saying in a statement they wanted "quick and
effective risk management strategies" to deal with potential risks from such
chemicals, which are present in many pesticides and industrial chemicals,
"on the basis of preliminary scientific evaluation."
Portuguese Environment Minister Jose Socrates who chaired the meeting was
quoted as saying, "(The statement) is a very concrete expression of the
precautionary principle which is one of our guiding principles of
environment policy."
(posted without permission)
