Fig. 2.

Scientific criteria for the determination of endocrine disrupting properties under the Biocidal (EU; 2017/2100) and Plant Protection Products (EU; 2018/605) Regulations as established by the European Commission. The criteria are based on the IPCS/WHO definition of an endocrine disruptor and state that “a substance shall be considered as having endocrine disrupting properties that may cause adverse effects in humans/or non-target organisms if, […], it is a substance that meets all of the following criteria, unless there is evidence demonstrating that the adverse effects identified are not relevant to humans/at the (sub)population level for non-target organisms.

(1) it shows an adverse effect in an intact organism or its progeny / in non-target organisms, which is a change in the morphology, physiology, growth, development, reproduction or life span of an organism, system or (sub)population that results in an impairment of functional capacity, an impairment of the capacity to compensate for additional stress or an increase in susceptibility to other influences;

(2) it has an endocrine mode of action, i.e. it alters the function(s) of the endocrine system;

(3) the adverse effect is a consequence of the endocrine mode of action.