On March 10, 2026, PIRSE-IEHRI published an analytical report of the expert roundtable “Global Governance on Endocrine Disruptors: From Science to Policy.”
PIRSE-IEHRI organized the event which took place on September 1, 2025, in partnership with the Geneva Environment Network, the UNEP Global Framework on Chemicals, and the Food Packaging Forum to discuss how the science, research, and policy knowledge on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be translated to support national and international governance.
The roundtable of eight specialists included Food Packaging Forum Board President Martin Scheringer and Scientific Advisory Board member Leonardo Trasande. Jane Muncke, Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer at the Food Packaging Forum, co-facilitated the discussions with Mickaël Repellin from PIRSE-IEHRI and the University of Lausanne.
The analytical overview provides a comprehensive synthesis of the discussions and was written as reference material for scientists, researchers, practitioners, and negotiators operating at the interface of science and policy.
Taking action on the science of EDCs
The panel described the decades-worth of evidence demonstrating the contribution of EDCs to non-communicable disease burden globally (FPF reported) and concluded that this data is compelling enough to justify immediate policy action (FPF reported).
Leonardo Trasande explained how the disease burden and social costs of EDC exposure often exceed the revenue of the polluting industry, making current models economically infeasible (FPF reported). He highlighted that known effects are likely only the tip of the iceberg and called for the establishment of biomonitoring and chemical tracking systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries where exposure could be highest. This information framework could also help combat the chemical “whack-a-mole” problem, where older chemicals are replaced with those that have not received adequate exposure assessment or health impact evaluation (i.e., regrettable substitution).
Challenges at the science-policy interface
The panel also discussed the challenges of EDC governance, especially since any action requires specific knowledge of endocrinological principles that differ from classic toxicological approaches. Current governance frameworks face operational and structural issues that hinder the productivity.
Martin Scheringer shared his opinions on the current state of the science-policy interface, explaining that current access for scientists to parliamentarians and ministers who could affect policy is limited. He described how the system focuses on immediate demands over long-term assessments, overworking political professionals and making scientific engagement nearly impossible. As a solution, he expressed the need for scientists to leverage new communication channels, including media, to place public pressure on decision-makers. However, he acknowledged that taking this action would require scientists and researchers to acquire a new set of communication skills.
Bringing science and policy together
In the concluding strategic perspectives, Jane Muncke and Mickaël Repellin synthesize the panel findings, describing how chemical regulations need a 21st century overhaul as the current chemical-by-chemical approach is not designed to handle the 16,325 identified plastic chemicals (FPF reported). They explain that EDC governance requires international frameworks to accelerate national level policy. This has already shown success in Peru. However, for this approach to be successful, policymakers must have access to clear information that turns scientific evidence into concrete actions. Successful EDC governance also requires the integration of disparate sectors, including health, labor, finance, and economics.
The synthesis report concludes by reaffirming that “[t]here is a clear recognition that sufficient scientific evidence exists to justify immediate action through transformed governance approaches that align institutional capacity with the scale and complexity of EDC exposure and impact.”
References
Geneva Environment Network (September 1, 2025). “Road to UNGA & UNEA | Global Governance on Endocrine Disruptors: From Science to Policy.”
Mickaël Repellin and Bénérike Kamdem (March 10, 2025). “Global Governance on Endocrine Disruptors: From Science to Policy Analytical Report.” PIRSE-IEHRI. (pdf).
