The latest data of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) shows that in 2020, only 0.19% of the food samples contained residues from veterinary drugs that exceed the legally permitted maximum levels. This is an improvement over 2019’s 0.30% compliancy rate, and the lowest figure of the past 11 years. Compliancy rates increased for numerous substances, including antithyroid agents, steroids and resorcylic acid lactones as well as anthelmintics, organochlorine compounds, organophosphorus compounds, dyes and “other substances”.

Non-compliancy rates vary across product groups – pigs and poultry having the lowest non-compliancy rates while honey, farmed game and will game were the most non-compliant. Most – 9 out of 12 – food groups reported a non-compliancy rate than 1%.

The detailed data can be found and viewed via an interactive data visualization tool at the EFSA’s webpage.

In order to prevent further groundwater and soil contamination and health risks for people, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed an EU-wide restriction on all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in firefighting foams. At the request of the European Commission, ECHA investigated the environmental and health risks posed by the use of PFASs in firefighting foams, and after the enquiry, they concluded that an EU-wide restriction is justified as the PFASs risks are currently not adequately controlled and releases should be minimised.

All PFASs, or their breakdown products, have been found to harm human health or the environment. The proposed option by ECHA aims at banning the placing on the market, use and export of all PFASs in firefighting foams after use or sector-specific transition periods, to control their associated risks. If adopted, the restriction could reduce emissions of PFASs into the environment by more than 13 000 tonnes over 30 years. Additionally, five European countries (The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) are working on a restriction proposal covering all PFASs in other uses, to be submitted to ECHA in January 2023.

A six-month consultation will be now performed by ECHA Scientific Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis, to assess the proposed restriction options. The European Commission will take a decision on the restriction of PFASs in firefighting foam in 2023, based on this assessment.

You can read the ECHA proposal here.

The European Union has exceeded the objectives set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. The initial aim by 2020 was to reduce emissions by 20% compared to 1990 – this was exceeded by 11%, as estimated data shows that emissions were 31% lower in 2020. While this is certainly good news, longer term predictions are still not wholly optimistic.

A large drop in emissions in 2020 was a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the predicted net reduction by 2030 would be only 41%, while the target is 55% for the beginning of the next decade. Looking further into the future, by 2050, according to the EU Green Deal objectives, the continent should become completely climate neutral.

‘Fit for 55’ is an overarching legislation package, that aims to deliver these goals. In addition, pollution-heavy sectors are involved in the EU Emissions Trading System, that incentivizes lower pollution. The effects of the ETS are demonstrated by the impressive 40% emission reduction amongst participating power plants and factories. The Effort Sharing Decision introduced national emission reduction targets – on a national level, energy efficiency was improved, and less carbon-intensive fuels were used.

The results and future challenges are well illustrated by the infographics, which can be seen here, alongside some additional information.

The fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) took place from the 28 February to 2 March in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme for UNEA’s 5^th session was “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” and highlighted the crucial role of nature in our lives, addressing the need of protecting and restoring nature, and proposing nature-based solutions to achieve the sustainable development goals in its three complementary dimensions – social, economic, and environmental.

This is in line with the Burlington consensus event, organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). EuChemS was invited to the Burlington consensus event, during which, experts emphasized the need for a global, independent platform that can address the issues of pollution on a global scale, highlighting that such a discussion should be high priority at the UNEA-5.

Partners from all continents, agreed to launch negotiations on a new legally binding global agreement on plastics, which aim is to address some ignored issues in the existing initiatives and agreements with regard to the design and production phases of the plastics life cycle. The overall goal of the agreement is eliminating the leakage of plastic into the environment. The main proposed solutions focus on prevention, proper design and production of plastics and their resource-efficient use. The first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee will be held in the second semester of 2022 and the negotiation process is expected to end by 2024.

The UNEA conference is held every two years and brings together representatives of Member States of the UN, businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders to agree on policies to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. For more information about the outcomes of the Assembly, visit: Environment Assembly (unep.org)