One French department has committed to become the first to sign up to a charter committing to ending its use of products containing endocrine disruptors.

The Tarn, in the southwest of the country, was set to sign the "Cities & Territories without endocrine disrupters", charter on Thursday, March 28.

In large enough quantities, the chemicals - often found in plastic, but also in cosmetics, cleaning materials, paint, and non-organic food, and known as “pertubateurs endocriniens” in French - are said to affect the endocrine system in humans and animals, including the pituitary gland, thyroid, adrenal glands, ovaries, testes, and the pancreas.

Read more: Limoges creche bans ‘endocrine disruptor’ chemicals

The Tarn department will commit to implementing a plan to restrict and eventually eliminate the use of products containing these endocrine disrupters.

In public and school canteens, more organic products will be used and, in the long term, the use of cooking and heating equipment containing endocrine disrupters will be prohibited.

The departmental council will also include a "non-disruptive" clause in public procurement contracts.

The department also intends to inform the population, health professionals and early childhood professionals through annual conferences.

Read more: Official list of ‘endocrine disruptors’ published