Chemicals

Chemicals are among the most heavily regulated areas in environmental protection. There is nevertheless a continuing need for action: chronic harm to health caused by chemicals in indoor air, consumer goods or foodstuffs remain problematic issues. Plant protection products affect not only "harmful" organisms but also many beneficial ones as well. Biocides are detrimental to water bodies. Pharmaceutical residues in soils and water pose a risk to the organisms living there. The reproductive capacity of plants and animals is impacted by the hormonal effects of chemicals. Finally, individual chemicals do not affect the environment but rather as compounds, often with a cumulative effect. Although some progress has been made, there is still a long way to go on the road to sustainable chemistry.

Launch of online portal for climate-friendly refrigeration

Guidance for planners and operators of refrigeration equipment read more

Rodent control involves risks for man and the environment

The use of poisonous bait to control rats and mice can lead to an unintentional poisoning of pets and wild animals. In addition, most of the chemical substances used are very persistent in the environment and accumulate in organisms. A large number of risk mitigation measures must be taken to prevent these occurrences, for example the use of bait stations. read more

EU member states need to step up the fight against antibiotics in the environment

Das Bild zeigt den Mund einer Frau. Mit ihrer rechten Hand führt sie eine Tablette an ihren Mund.

German Environment Agency presents seven priority areas for action read more

Minister Schulze presents plan for glyphosate phase-out

The Federal Ministry for Environment has presented a plan for the gradual phase-out of the use of the broadband herbicide glyphosate. The Use of Pesticides Ordinance will be amended for this purpose. The German Environment Agency as competent body for the authorisation procedure seeks to make the authorisation of products which harm biodiversity contingent upon certain conditions of their use. read more

Studies of mercury, acrylamide and pesticides exposure

The human biomonitoring initiative known as HBM4EU was launched nearly one year ago with a funding volume of 74 million euros. The project has now decided to take a closer look at nine new substances including mercury, acrylamide, glyphosate and fipronil. read more

International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre celebrates first year anniversary

group of man and women posing for a photo

The International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) was launched about one year ago. The guests of an anniversary event held in Bonn represented government, industry, science and civil society praising the Center’s successful start and looked ahead to the future tasks and goals of ISC3. read more

Plant protection product application by helicopter – only after close scrutiny, even on Natura 2000 sites

Pesticides may only be applied on Natura 2000 sites if the procedure has received prior approval for tolerability in accordance with an exacting authorisation procedure under EU nature conservation law. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the German Environment Agency (UBA) have produced a guide for the responsible authorities in the Länder on how to conduct this check. read more