Box 1 Definition of endocrine disruptors

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,” according to the widely accepted WHO/IPCs definition. The REACH regulation does not use the term “Endocrine Disruptors” but refers to “substances—such as those having endocrine disrupting properties […]—for which there is scientific evidence of probable serious effects to human health or the environment which give rise to an equivalent level of concern” compared to CMR and PBT/vPvB substances (Art 57f). However, the WHO/IPCS definition has been used for the identification of EDs as substances of very high concern and was confirmed to be the base for SVHC identification by the European Commission in its communication with regard to Endocrine Disruptors in June 2016 (http://ec.europa.eu/health/endocrine_disruptors/docs/com_2016_350_en.pdf)