Many chemicals in products on sale in the shops can build up in your body or the environment. Many are known to be hormone disrupters. Most haven't been assessed for safety.

Members of the European Parliament voted on 15 November 2001 against stricter controls on these chemicals. Many UK Labour MEPs voted with Conservatives to prevent effective controls.

Amongst East Midlands MEPs, Phillip Whitehead (Labour) and Bill Newton-Dunn (Liberal Democrat) voted to phase out these chemicals. You could thank them for their support.

Both Conservative MEPs, Roger Helmer and Christopher Heaton-Harris, voted to take no action against these chemicals. You could tell them what you think about them.

Both Mel Read (Labour) and Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat) abstained. You could ask them to do the right thing next time.

Some points you could make:
• You want new laws to better protect health, particularly for babies and young children.
• Chemicals should be properly assessed for safety.
• Chemicals which interfere with the hormone system should not be allowed.
• Chemicals that build up in the human body or the environment should not be allowed.
• People should have a right to know what chemicals are in the products they buy.