Federal activities

The issue of endocrine disruptors (ED) concerns numerous sectors and requires a high degree of coordination both within the federal administration and at the international level. The federal authorities are also committed to providing support for scientific research.

Federal Interdepartmental Coordination Group
International activities
Support for research
Documents and Links

Federal Interdepartmental Coordination Group

Endocrine disruptors are found in many articles of daily use. For example, they may be present in

toys,
furniture,
food or medicine packaging,
clothing,
cleaning and care products, or even in
plants such as soya or clover.

The issue of endocrine disruptors thus concerns sectors such as

health,
consumer protection,
the environment,
occupational safety,
medicinal products,
food safety and
agriculture.

A number of federal offices are thus concerned with this topic:

the FOPH,
the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN),
the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG),
the Federal Office of Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (FSVO),
the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and
Swissmedic.

In 2015, the federal offices’ Chemicals Coordination Committee established an Interdepartmental Coordination Group on endocrine disruptors (IKOG EAS, standing for «Endocrine Active Substances»). This brings together representatives from all the federal offices concerned, meeting 2–4 times a year.

The aim is to share information on endocrine disruptors and to coordinate the activities of the various offices. The group is also responsible for providing the Swiss population with relevant information and expert advice on endocrine disruptors, particularly in the form of a joint factsheet provided in the "documents" section below.

Members of this group also follow developments in this area at the international level and sit on various international committees.

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International activities

Endocrine disruptors are also considered a matter of concern in other countries. Switzerland actively monitors scientific and regulatory developments through participation in various expert groups at the international level.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

One of the tasks of the OECD is to establish internationally harmonised methods for evaluating the toxicity of chemical substances. In recent years, numerous methods for the identification of endocrine disruptors have been developed and validated. New methods continue to be assessed and added so as to integrate the latest scientific knowledge on this topic.

Switzerland is a full member of the OECD expert group responsible for endocrine disruptors.

More detailed information on these activities can be found on the following website: OECD Work Related to Endocrine Disrupters.

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

The ECHA evaluates the toxicity of chemicals on behalf of the EU. To support the European authorities, the ECHA has established an expert group (ECHA-EDEG) that provides scientific advice on matters relating to the identification of endocrine-disrupting properties of chemicals.

Switzerland is represented in this group thanks to the Mutual Recognition Agreement concerning biocidal products. Further information on the group’s activities is available on the following website: ECHA Endocrine Disruptor Expert Group.

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Support for research

Switzerland actively monitors scientific developments and promotes research in the field of endocrine disruptors.

For example, it supports the development of internationally harmonised methods for the identification of endocrine disruptors (OECD Test Guidelines) and for water quality testing (ISO standards), as well as the development of environmental quality standards for endocrine disruptors in water.

Switzerland collaborates closely with the following organisations, providing financial support for selected research projects:

SCAHT (Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology)

The SCAHT supports research in applied human toxicology and facilitates the exchange of multidisciplinary information and data. Its mission is to advise authorities, promote research and provide education and training in human toxicology. Endocrine disruptors and their effects on human health are among the key topics of SCAHT research projects.

Based in Basel, the SCAHT collaborates closely with the Universities of Basel, Geneva and Lausanne, and with the FHNW School of Life Sciences. More information can be found on the website: SCAHT.

Ecotox Centre

The Ecotox Centre is the centre for applied ecotoxicology in Switzerland. Its goals are to detect and assess the environmental effects of chemicals and to develop strategies for minimizing their risk.

With its focus on knowledge management/knowledge and technology transfer, the Centre represents an important bridge between research and practice. The Ecotox Centre shares and transfers expert knowledge and teaches professional skills. It is engaged in practice-oriented education and professional development and provides information to the public.

The Ecotox Centre, with its focus on aquatic ecotoxicology and risk assessment, has its main premises at Eawag in Dübendorf, with a second group, focusing on soil and sediment ecotoxicology, at the EPFL in Lausanne. More information is available on the website: Ecotox Centre.

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