What is the existing approach in the European Community?
Introduction

Under the existing legislation within the EU, the assessment of the toxic potential of a chemical is dependent on the type of chemical. For example, pesticides and biocides have separate legislation governing their testing and assessment.

In general, chemicals, prior to marketing, are required to undergo a very specific programme of testing and assessment in order to ensure that once in use or released into the environment, they pose no danger to people or wildlife. Under this approach, chemicals would undergo testing (hazard identification), the results of which would be used in a risk assessment. The third level determines whether restrictions are needed on the chemical's usage (risk management).

This existing legislation, while accounting for detrimental endocrine related effects on reproduction or disease states such as cancer, does not use disruption to the endocrine system as an endpoint per se.