Censure for EU Commission over endocrine disruptors

(STRASBOURG) - Euro-MPs signed a motion of censure on the European Commission Thursday for failing to comply with its legal obligation to publish scientific criteria for defining endocrine disruptors.

At the European Parliament's plenary session, Vice President Ryszard Czarnecki confirmed that the President had received a motion of censure, signed by the necessary number of MEPs.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with hormone systems. Endocrine disrupting chemicals are found in thousands of products -- including disinfectants, pesticides and toiletries -- which have been linked to cancers, birth defects and development disorders in children.

The European Court of Justice recently ruled that the Commission had breached EU law by failing to publish scientific criteria for defining them, as a first step towards reducing exposure. MEPs have repeatedly urged the EU to clamp down on the substances.

In a March 2013 resolution, the European Parliament called on the Commission to act to reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors, which have been linked to recent increases in cases of impaired sperm quality, early onset of puberty, certain cancers and other disorders.

Procedure

According to rule 119 a motion of censure on the Commission may be submitted to the President by one tenth of the component Members of Parliament. Parliament will debate this motion in plenary session at least 24 hours after it is announced, and then put it to a roll-call-vote, at least 48 hours after the beginning of the debate.

To be adopted, the motion of censure needs to secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of the component Members of Parliament. The President of the Council and the President of the Commission shall be notified of the result of the vote.