§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the conclusions of the Third International Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, "London 99", in relation to (a) hormone-disrupting chemicals; and (b) genetically modified foods. [HL 4073]
§ Lord WhittyThe conference was the third in a series organised by the World Health Organisation's European Region and had as its theme "action in partnership", with Ministers or their representatives attending from 54 countries.
Ministers did not specifically discuss hormone-disrupting chemicals or genetically modified foods and did not refer to them in the conference declaration, but covered a number of topics of major concern, in particular water and transport.
The conference adopted a Protocol to the 1992 UNECE Convention on Trans boundary Watercourses and International Lakes which will address the serious burden of water-related disease and the pressing problems in water management, water supply and sanitation existing in the European Region. The conference also adopted a Charter on Transport, Environment and Health to address the need to integrate health and environment concerns within transport policies. Climate change, children's health, public participation and access to information, and national environmental health action plans were also covered.
Among other topics, the conference emphasised the rights of children to good health. It was proposed that the next conference in 2004 should have a major focus on children and development of an international instrument should be considered. Chemicals were seen as important, particularly the need to take account of children's susceptibility when establishing limit values. Hormone-disrupting chemicals may be considered in this context.
The agenda for the 2004 conference will be drawn up based on the topics proposed by member states of the WHO European Region. Specific items on chemicals and genetically modified foods may be included if there is sufficient support.