About ENKORE
The ENKORE cluster https://enkore-cluster.eu/ is comprised of five projects: EDC-MASLD, ENDOMIX, HYPIEND, MERLON and NEMESIS, funded under the EU call HORIZON-HLTH-2023-ENVHLTH-02-03 (Health impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals: bridging science-policy gaps by addressing persistent scientific uncertainties). The ENKORE cluster’s policy goal is to inform current and future policy processes in the EU to ultimately improve the health and well-being of European populations.
The ENKORE cluster finds the update of the CPR of central importance for exposure of the European population to endocrine disruptors (EDs) and would like to emphasise the urgency to pursue efforts in minimizing ED exposure and protect the health of women, vulnerable groups and future generations.
The ENKORE cluster calls for a prohibition of EDs in the CPR
In the scientific papers published by the ENKORE cluster thus far, the urgency of minimizing exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs) have been underscored.
Epidemiological studies report rising trends in hormone-related diseases, including reproductive and metabolic disorders, and animal studies confirm that similar effects can be induced by exposure to EDs (Svingen et al., 2024; Parent et al., 2025; Heikkinen et al., 2025; Gogola et al., 2025; Holmer et al., 2025). Despite this rapidly increasing knowledge-base and intensified regulatory efforts to improve the identification of EDs relevant for humans within the European Union over the past 15 years (Holmer et al., 2025), a continuous low-dose exposure of EDs through every-day products, including cosmetics, is inevitable (Svingen et al., 2024; Parent et al., 2025; Hakomäki et al., 2024; Gogola et al., 2025).
There are reports of increased consumption of cosmetics in adults and children (McKinsey 2024) and higher use of personal care products is correlated with higher levels of multiple EDs (Bloom et al., 2024). Further, dermal exposure to EDs is often neglected, but it is a significant exposure route. The kinetics from dermal exposure is different than from oral exposure and may lead to higher internal levels due to bypass of first-pass metabolism (Abraham et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2017; Shin et al., 2023; Martinez et al., 2018). Also, human biomonitoring studies continue to detect levels of EDs in the general European population, and for some EDs, the levels exceed estimated tolerable intakes (EEA 2023).
On this basis, the ENKORE cluster calls for the revision of the CPR to include a prohibition of CLP-classified EDs in category 1 and category 2 for human health (HH), in line with the recent restriction of use of ED-classified substances under the Toys Regulation (EC 2025).
The contents of this position paper do not necessarily reflect the views of all partners of the ENKORE cluster.
The views and opinions expressed in this position paper are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority
can be held responsible for them.
References:
Abraham et al., 2022: Transdermal absorption of 13C4-perfluorooctanoic acid (13C4-PFOA) from a sunscreen in a male volunteer – What could be the contribution of cosmetics to the internal exposure of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)? https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107549
Bloom et al., 2024: Impact of Skin Care Products on Phthalates and Phthalate Replacements in Children: the ECHO-FGS. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13937
EEA 2023: EEA 2023. European Environment Agency, Briefing, Human Exposure to Bisphenol A in Europe, Retrieved from: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/peoples-exposure-to-bisphenol-a/
Hakomäki et al., 2024: Unmasking metabolic disruptors: The NEMESIS project’s quest for Novel Biomarkers, Evidence on Adverse Effects, and Efficient Methodologies. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.18439.1
Heikkinen et al., 2025: Metabolic disruption by mycotoxins: focus on metabolic endpoints steatosis, adipogenesis and glucose metabolism in vivo and in vitro. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-025-03957-w
Holmer et al., 2025: Assessment of endocrine disruptors in the European Union: Current regulatory framework, use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) and recommendations for improvements. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2025.105883
Gogola et al., 2025: Association between phthalate exposure and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) – Systematic literature review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.121186
Liu et al., 2017: Prolonged Exposure to Bisphenol A from Single Dermal Contact Events. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b03093
Martinez et al., 2018: Comparing dietary and non-dietary source contribution of BPA and DEHP to prenatal exposure: A Catalonia (Spain) case study. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.05.008
Parent et al., 2025: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and female reproductive health: a growing concern. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-025-01131-x
Shin et al., 2023: Pharmacokinetics of transdermal methyl-, ethyl-, and propylparaben in humans following single dermal administration. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136689
Svingen et al., 2025: Enhanced identification of endocrine disruptors through integration of science-based regulatory practices and innovative methodologies: The MERLON Project. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.17319.1
