The EU: Too Relaxed About Plastics?

An NGO, the European Environmental Bureau, feel that a suggestion the EU should only subject 6% of the 200,000 polymers it uses, to extensive safety checks is very short-sighted (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/21/new-eu-rules-would-permit-use-of-most-polymers-without-checks-experts-warn). The NGO notes that the polystyrenes are amongst the polymers ear-marked for exceptions from safety checks. Polystyrenes have been linked, in animal studies, to lung damage. Polyacrylamides are also given a free pass, inspite of producing a breakdown product that is a neurotoxin. Numerous other polymers give rise to microplastics. These have potentially problematic effects on marine ecosystems and human health. The EU should certainly be more stringent and require evidence that any plastics it uses do not cause harm. Plastics, as we know only too well, also often finish up in locations well away from their place of manufacture. The EU have responsibility to the world, as well as to their own populations.