Issuu

Chemical Safety and Biosafety Progress Report

No. 43 November 2022

Table of contents I. Provision of Knowledge and Information

1. Methodologies for Hazard Assessment & Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment

2. Methodologies for Exposure Assessment

3. Approaches for determining the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials

4. Notification & Reporting Tools

II. Assistance with Governance 1. Test Guidelines

2. Good Laboratory Practice

3. Mutual Acceptance of Data

4. Evaluation and updating of OECD legal instruments (acquis) on chemicals

III. Support for Capacity Building

1. eChemPortal

2. Dissemination of OECD products

IV. Risk Management

1. Risk Reduction (including docio-economic analysis)

2. Sustainable Chemistry (including sustainable plastics, alternatives assessment and subsitution)

V. Pesticides & Biocides

1. Pesticides

2. Biocides

VI. Development of Instruments to assist countries in dealing with release of Hazardous Chemicals

1. Chemical Accidents

2. Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) and Best Available Techniques (BAT)

VII. Development of instruments for the Harmonisation of Regulatory of Modern Biotechnology

1. Environmental Safety

2. The Global Forum on Biotechnology

3. Food and Feed Safety

EHS Publications

EHS Websites

EHS Staff Directory

I. Provision of Knowledge and Information

HAZARD ASSESSMENT & IATA

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 5

Methodologies for Hazard Assessment

The Hazard Assessment Programme is concerned with the hazard assessment of industrial chemicals. The current focus of the programme is on the development and application of Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) and the exchange of experience on new hazard assessment methodologies. IATA are frameworks used for hazard identification, hazard characterisation and/or safety assessment of a chemical or group of chemicals, which integrate and weigh all relevant existing data and guide the targeted generation of new data where required to inform regulatory decision-making regarding potential hazard and/or risk. The OECD is already actively working on the development of tools and approaches such as chemical categories and (Q)SARs which are methods for estimating properties of a chemical from its molecular structure and have the potential to provide information on hazards of chemicals, while reducing time, monetary cost and animal testing currently needed. The OECD (Q)SAR Project is developing guidance material and a “Toolbox” for practical applications of (Q)SARs by governments and industry in specific regulatory contexts.

Integrated Approaches to Testing & Assessment The Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) case studies project continues under a project team of the Working Party on Hazard Assessment (WPHA). Seven case studies in the 7th review cycle were published in Q3 2022: l

Case study for the integration of in vitro data in the developmental neurotoxicity hazard identification and characterisation using deltamethrin as a prototype chemical

Case study for the integration of in vitro data in the developmental neurotoxicity hazard identification and characterisation using flufenacet

Organophosporus flame retardants, a case study on the use of IATA for DNT to prioritize a class of compounds

Case Study on the use of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment for developmental neurotoxicity hazard characterisation of acetamiprid

Case Study on the use of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment for developmental neurotoxicity hazard characterisation of imidacloprid and the metabolite desnitro-imidacloprid

Case Study Using a New Approach Methodology (NAM) for Refining Inhalation Risk Assessment from Point of Contact Toxicity of the Pesticide, Chlorothalonil

Case Study on the Use of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment for skin sensitisation: Demonstrating the Next Generation Risk Assessment Framework using Geraniol

One additional case study and the consideration document of the 7th review cycle will be published in Q4 2022: l

Case Study on the use of Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment for potential Systemic Toxicity and Estrogen Receptor Activation of a Group of Bisphenols and Select Alternatives

Two case studies have been reviewed in the 8th review cycle in 2022: l

Case study on application of a Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) framework for skin allergy using Diethanolamine

Case Study on the use of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment for “Eye hazard identification” of “non-surfactant neat liquids”

The 8th meeting of the IATA Case Studies Project – including a joint session with the OECD QSAR Assessment Framework project - will be held on 15 -16 November, 2022 to discuss the two case studies of the 8th review cycle and one pilot case study. The meeting will also discuss the future evolution of the IATA Case Studies Project, following the feedback from the WPHA.

HAZARD ASSESSMENT & IATA

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 6

QSAR Toolbox The 8th meeting of the IATA Case Studies Project – including a joint session with the OECD QSAR Assessment Framework project - will be held on 15 -16 November, 2022 to discuss the two case studies of the 8th review cycle and one pilot case study. The meeting will also discuss the future evolution of the IATA Case Studies Project, following the feedback from the WPHA. Version 4.5 SP1 of the QSAR Toolbox was released in Q1 2022. New features of the QSAR Toolbox version 4.5 SP1 include: l

Plug-in for IUCLID

Expansion of the Toolbox (Web)API / Web Client,

Simplified user interface and web interface

The QSAR Toolbox management group mid-year meeting was held on 30 June 2022 to review the deliverables and to discuss the future development of the Toolbox. Since the beginning of 2021, the QSAR Assessment Framework project team has been discussing the development of a systematic and harmonised assessment framework for (Q)SAR model predictions. This will build on the OECD (Q) SAR validation principles and complement already existing tools by providing a consistent means of assessing the uncertainty/confidence in a (Q)SAR prediction. The initial timeline of the project was expected to be about 18 months, however, to adequately address the extensive comments and evaluate the assessment framework using case studies, the timeline will be extended to 24 months (until Q1 2023). The first face-to-face meeting and a joint session with the IATA Case Studies Project will be held on 15-16 November 2022.

Adverse Outcome Pathways Knowledge Base (AOP-KB) The European Commission – DG Joint Research Centre (JRC), the US Environmental Protection Agency and the OECD Secretariat work together on the development of the AOP Knowledge Base (AOP-KB) v2.0. The AOP-KB 2.0 project contains three strands of activities: 1.

Further development of the AOP-XML format that would reflect any AOP-Wiki major feature addition, including its promotion in the AOP stakeholder community;

AOP-Wiki maintenance, taking care of the hosting and smooth operation of the AOP-Wiki, as well as the addition of smaller, quick-win features that are prioritised and implemented in a yearly planning cycle. Recently, features like table sorting and filtering, incorporation of third party tools, tracking the provenance of knowledge, online publication of the AOP handbook and more transparent treatment of modulating factors were made available with the 2.5 release of AOP-Wiki in July 2022. An OECD webinar is organised on 14 December 2022 to present the new features associated with AOP-Wiki 2.5 and what motivated them and to discuss the planned features for AOP-Wiki 2.6;

AOP-Wiki major feature addition, exploring, together with the stakeholder community, the requirements for additional functionalities and their potential implementation. One visualisation Focus Group workshop was organised in May 2022 in Brussels and two are expected to be held in North America before the end of 2022. This includes constant interaction with EAGMST and its subgroups when such major features impact the AOP framework itself. There are ongoing discussions on how to better capture stressors and test methods in the AOPWiki.

HAZARD ASSESSMENT & IATA

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 6

Biomonitoring The Working Party on Exposure Assessment and the WPHA are proceeding with two projects on occupational exposure. The first is the occupational biomonitoring project. A draft guidance document was submitted to the CBC for declassification in August 2022. The second a project on setting occupational exposure limits (OELs) project. The summary report of a survey on OEL setting was declassified and published in July 2022.

Recent publications in the Series on Testing and Assessment No. 344: Guidance Document for the scientific review of Adverse Outcome Pathways No. 351: Establishing Occupational Exposure Limits No. 362: Case study for the integration of in vitro data in the developmental neurotoxicity hazard identification and characterisation using deltamethrin as a prototype chemical No. 363: Case study for the integration of in vitro data in the developmental neurotoxicity hazard identification and characterisation using flufenacet No. 364 Case study on the use of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment for DNT to prioritize a class of Organophosphorus flame retardants

No. 366 Case Study on the use of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment for developmental neurotoxicity hazard characterisation of imidacloprid and the metabolite desnitro-imidacloprid (Annex 1) No. 367 Case Study on the use of an Integrated Approach for Testing and Assessment (IATA) for New Approach Methodology (NAM) for Refining Inhalation Risk Assessment from Point of Contact Toxicity of the Pesticide, Chlorothalonil No. 368 Case Study on the Use of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment for skin sensitisation: Demonstrating the Next Generation Risk Assessment Framework using Geraniol

No. 365 Case Study on the use of Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment for developmental neurotoxicity hazard characterisation of acetamiprid (Annex 1)

Forthcoming events Webinar - AOP-KB 2.5 and beyond: inside stories from a development tailored to regulatory needs (title to be confirmed): 14 December 2022 7th Meeting of the Working Party on Hazard Assessment, week of 26 June, 2023

Contacts

Websites

Patience BROWNE Magdalini SACHANA Tomoko AOYAGI

www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/riskassessment/hazard-assessment.htm

AOP-KB: Anne GOURMELON Magdalini SACHANA

www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ risk-assessment/iata-integratedapproaches-to-testing-andassessment.htm www.qsartoolbox.org http://aopkb.org/

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 7

Methodologies for Exposure Assessment

Risk to human health and the environment posed by chemicals is determined by chemical-specific hazard properties and the extent of exposure to chemicals. The OECD assists countries in developing and harmonising methods for assessing the exposure of chemicals to humans and the environment. Children are more vulnerable than adults to environmental hazards, such as those presented by chemicals, owing to their different physiological, metabolic factors and activity levels. The OECD has initiated an activity to help support governments assess the risk of chemicals to children.

Estimating the release of chemicals The Working Party on Exposure Assessment (WPEA) is currently developing six Emission Scenario Documents (ESDs): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

ESD for uses of fluorocarbon substitutes – Foam Manufacturing ESD for uses of fluorocarbon substitutes – Refrigeration ESD for uses of fluorocarbon substitutes – Mobile Air Conditioning ESD for chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, ESD on chemicals used in fabric finishing, and ESD on 3D Printing

The ESD for Emission of Metals During Primary and Secondary Smelting and Waste Incineration, Covering Recycling of Electrical and Electronic Waste was published in September 2022.

Exposure to humans and the environment Regarding Children’s Health, the WPEA has three activities; l

A Survey on exposure assessment methodology for children (led by the Netherlands) was conducted in 2021, and the summary report was developed and circulated to the WPEA for review in June 2022.

The development of a “Children exposure factor database” (led by Korea) was initiated in June 2022, and as the first step, a draft list of exposure factors to be included in the database is being discussed.

A case study on crafts and toys is being conducted (by Canada) focusing on children’s exposure to chemicals in such products.

The WPEA is also working on the development of a biomonitoring database on chemicals measured in humans. In collaboration with the EU’s IPCheM project, the integration of biomonitoring data from Canada into the IPCheM database was conducted as a pilot study with the aim to disseminate biomonitoring data from OECD member countries. Two new activities on exposure models were launched in 2021. The first is the compilation of exposure models and the survey was conducted in Q3 2021. Japan and the US are co-leading the drafting of a summary report, which was submitted to the WPEA for review in August 2022. The second is the update of the OECD Pov and LRTP Screening Tool. An expert group was set up and a report with technical proposals for updating the Tool will be prepared in Q4 2022.

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 8

The WPEA and the Working Party on Hazard Assessment are proceeding with two projects on occupational exposure. The first is a project on occupational biomonitoring. A draft guidance document was submitted to the CBC for declassification in August 2022. The second is on setting occupational exposure limits (OELs). The summary report of a survey on OEL setting was declassified and published in July 2022.

Recent publications in the Series on Emission Scenario Documents No. 42 Emission Scenario Document for Emission of Metals During Primary and Secondary Smelting and Waste Incineration, Covering Recycling of Electrical and Electronic Waste

Forthcoming event 22-23 June 2023, 7th Meeting of the Working Party on Exposure Assessment

Contact Koki TAKAKI

Website www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ risk-assessment/ exposureassessment.htm www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ childrens-health.htm

SAFETY OF MANUFACTURED NANANOMATERIALS

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 9

Approaches for determining the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials BOX 4: INVESTMENTS IN WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH AMBITIONS

On the nano-scale, typically within the range of 1-100 nm in at least one dimension, the properties of materials can be different from those on a larger scale. The novel properties of nanomaterials can be applied to diverse application areas, such as in medicine, environment and energy production. Manufactured nanomaterials are already used in a number of commercial applications; which raises questions regarding potential unintended hazards to humans and the environment and whether nanomaterials need special measures to deal with potential risks. There is a need for a responsible and co-ordinated approach to ensure that potential safety issues are being addressed at the same time as the technology is developing. Therefore, the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) was established to promote international co-operation in human health and environmental safety aspects of manufactured nanomaterials, and more recently advanced materials. Its objective is to assist countries in their efforts to assess the safety implications of nanomaterials.

The OECD work on nanosafety is driven by the OECD Council Recommendation on the Safety Testing and Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials, which aims to align the safety testing and assessment of nanomaterials with measures for the safety testing and assessment of chemicals as described in existing OECD Council Acts on chemicals. At the same time, the programme seeks to develop guidance on possible approaches that can assist regulators in assessing the specificities of nanomaterials and other advanced materials. This programme is implemented by the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (hereafter WPMN). One of the focus areas of the WPMN is to support the work on the development and update of Test Guidelines (TG) and Guidance Documents (GD) to ensure their applicability to nanomaterials. To support this work, the WPMN is currently updating the OECD Guidance on Sample Preparation and Dosimetry published in 2012 [ENV/JM/MONO(2012)40]. While it is recognised that some information sections are now addressed by recently published TGs and GDs for nanomaterials, there are a number of sections that deserve a revision to reflect the current scientific knowledge. Another project underway is the update of the section 6.9 on the Guidance on Grouping of Chemicals which is dedicated to nanomaterials. A draft is currently being reviewed. The revision of the GD is done in coordination with the Working Party on Hazard Assessment (WPHA) to ensure alignment. Both reviews aim to integrate advances in science and new knowledge gained since their publication in 2012 and 2014 respectively. The WPMN is finalising the draft scoping review for a tiered approach for reliable bioaccumulation assessment of MNs in environmental organisms minimising the use of higher tier vertebrate tests. The scoping paper is close to finalisation and is expected to be published in 2023. Regarding exposure of nanomaterials, a project was initiated to develop guidance on release tests for manufactured nanomaterials. The aim will be to facilitate the choice of suitable release tests when addressing the safety of consumer products. A second project is currently reviewing existing factors that can be measured to evaluate exposure to Nano-Objects and their Aggregates and Agglomerates (NOAA) in the workplace. A draft report should be discussed in early 2023. Finally, the WPMN is reviewing a project proposal aiming to develop guidance on the use of exposure models/tools for manufactured nanomaterials and emerging advanced materials. This project is a follow-up of the evaluation of exposure tools and models completed in 2021. In 2022, the WPMN completed a working description of advanced materials and initiated the development of a strategic approach for ensuring the safe use of advanced materials for which existing (nano) assessment tools are not adequate. The strategy is aligned with the work on the Safer and Sustainable Innovation Approach (SSIA) and incorporates the concepts of Regulatory Preparedness (RP) and Safe and Sustainable by Design) (SSbD). The aim is to identify potential concerns, knowledge gaps as well as safety and sustainability aspects of the proposed applications of advanced materials at an early stage of innovation and identify actions needed to overcome them (for example improve certain assessment methods, including Test Guidelines). At the same time, working description on Sustainability and on SSbD were also completed and should help operationale the Safer Innovation Approach. Specific case studies on advanced materials will be developed in 2022-2023 with the aim to further refine the strategic approach for their safe use. The case studies will also be used to apply the SSIA approach and further develop theconcepts of Trusted environment

SAFETY OF MANUFACTURED NANANOMATERIALS

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 10

and Regulatory Preparedness. With this in mind, the projects on advanced materials and the Safer and Sustainable Innovation Approach are implemented in close collaboration to ensure convergence. A joint workshop between the two expert groups took place in February 2022, which contributed to aligning the approaches and timelines of the case studies. A number of meetings are envisaged in 2022 and 2023 to further the discussion on the case studies. Finally, the WPMN agreed in June to update the annex of the OECD Council Recommendation on Nanomaterials. A draft is currently been prepared by the Secretariat and it is expected to be circulated to the WPMN for inputs and agreement in November 2022.

Recent publications in the Series on Testing and Assessment No. 105: Sustainability and Safe and Sustainable by Design: Working Descriptions for the Safer Innovation Approach

No. 103: Important Issues on Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials

No. 104: Advanced Materials: Working Description

The OECD project on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials is being implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.

Forthcoming events 3 November 2022, Webinar on Safer and Sustainable Innovation Approach (SSIA) 15 November 2022 Online workshop on Harmless Advanced Materials 26-30 June 2023, 23rd Meeting of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials, Paris, France

Contacts

Website

Mar GONZALEZ Kimiko YAMAMOTO Hyein HEO Ester CARREGAL ROMERO Lesley SMITH

www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ nanosafety/

NOTIFICATION& REPORTING TOOLS

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 11

Notification & Reporting Tools

BOX 4: INVESTMENTS IN WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH AMBITIONS

The development of I.T. Tools at OECD focuses on the harmonization of electronic formats for exchanging information on chemicals. These formats can then be used for the development of databases or regulatory submission tools in countries, ensuring that data gathered in one country can be exchanged seamlessly with other countries without reformatting and that electronic dossiers developed for submission in one country can be submitted to multiple countries or jurisdictions.

Harmonised Templates for Reporting Test Summaries The work continues to adapt the OECD Harmonised Templates for Reporting Chemical Test Summaries (OHTs) to new or revised Test Guidelines. A total of seven OHTs from different Series, revised for covering new/revised Test Guidelines issued in June 2021, were endorsed by the CBC in September 2022. These revised OHTs will be pusblished soon on the OHTs public website. The European Union is leading a project to extend ‘OHT 201 on Intermediate Effects’ to cover the reporting of tests made according to OECD In vitro/In chemico Test Guidelines. This orientates the use of OHTs when dealing with reporting of non-apical observations (i.e. mechanistic information) from in vitro tests. Following the publication in December 2020 of the revised OHT 201, this template needed further revision to include revised TG 442C adopted in June 2022. In due course, further developments are contemplated to extend OHT 201 to other in vitro/in chemico Test Guidelines on endocrine disrupters notably. In parallel, The OECD is developing a new OHT 75-2 ‘Endocrine disrupter screening – in vitro’. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is leading a project on splitting OHT 50-2 ‘Toxicity to Terrestrial Arthropods’ to better accommodate the reporting needs for different types of arthropods. The project contemplates a possible splitting into three new templates: (1) OHT 50-3 ‘Toxicity to bees’, (2) OHT 50-4 ‘Toxicity to terrestrial arthropods other than bees’ and (3) OHT 50-5 ‘Toxicity to soil arthropods’. Another ECHA led project is on the development of “endpoint study summaries” for each of the existing OHTs with the aim to use harmonized reporting formats for conclusions on individual hazard endpoints in case more than one study result is available. In a joint effort by ECHA and the OECD, some technical and editorial improvements will be brought to several OHTs during 2023, in order to fulfil requests and suggestions from users of IUCLID and align the templates with the specificities of the next IUCLID version. Annual updates to cover recently updated/new Test Guidelines will be carried out on nine OHTs in 2023. Activities to improve the use of OHTs for both biopesticide and pesticide submissions will continue. Furthermore, a possible extension of the Series of Use and Exposure Information as well as the update of OHT 305 ‘Consumer uses’ could result from a project of the Working Party on Exposure Assessment on collecting exposure and release information from products. In the longer run, OHT changes/extension could result from the ECHA led project on the improvement of Robust Study Summaries.

Contacts Patience BROWNE Ester CARREGAL ROMERO

Website www.oecd.org/ehs/templates/

NOTIFICATION& REPORTING TOOLS

PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION . 12

IUCLID The International Uniform Chemical Information Database (IUCLID) is a software tool used to capture and store, submit, and exchange data on chemical substances according to the OECD Harmonised Templates for Reporting Chemical Test Summaries (OHTs). The objective of the OECD IUCLID User Group Expert Panel is to identify world-wide IUCLID user needs, particularly those identified by users in regulatory settings. IUCLID version 6.14.3 was released in April 2022. This service release included additional search options, bulk deletion of documents within a dataset, Single Sign On (SSO) support, and the possibility to choose PostgreSQL as the database type. IUCLID version v6.19.0 was released in July 2022. This service release included improvements to navigation, and dossier comparison. The OECD IUCLID User Group Expert Panel met in October 2022 and reported on use of IUCLID including in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the European Food Safety Agency and the European Commission Joint Research Centre, provided feedback on the planned scope of IUCLID releases in 2022 and 2023 and other relevant activities such as development and use of the IUCLID Uploader, Data Extractor and IUCLID Report Generator and on data exchange and dissemination related to the use of IUCLID. The Meeting also brainstormed on future potential activities for prioritisation and agreed in principle (small adjustments will be made and reviewed in November) the 3rd draft of the revision of the IUCLID Customisation document for a 3rd edition in 2023.

Forthcoming event

Contact

26-27 September 2023 (TBC), Meeting of the UCLID User Group Export Panel

Sally DE MARCELLUS

II. Assistance with Governance

TEST GUIDELINES

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 14

Test Guidelines

The Test Guidelines Programme develops Test Guidelines and related documents needed to undertake the first step in chemical regulation – testing for health and environmental hazards.

The following new, updated and corrected Test Guidelines were published in June 2022:

New Test Guidelines Section 1: Physical-Chemical properties 124: Volume Specific Surface Area of Manufactured Nanomaterials 125: Particle Size and Particle Size Distribution of Nanomaterials Section 2: Effects on Biotic Systems 251: Rapid Androgen Disrupter Activity Reporter Assay Section 3: Effects on Biotic Systems 320: Determining Anaerobic Transformation of Chemicals in Liquid Manure Section 4: Health effects 467: Defined Approaches for Serious Eye Damage and Eye Irritation 470: Mammalian Erythrocyte Pig-a Gene Mutation Assay 492B: Reconstructed Human Cornea-like Epithelium (RHCE) Test Method for Eye Hazard Identification

Updated Test Guidelines Section 4: Health Effects 442C: In Chemico Skin Sensitisation 442E: In Vitro Skin Sensitisation 488: Transgenic Rodent Somatic and Germ Cell Gene Mutation Assays 456: H295R Steroidogenesis Assay

Corrected Test Guidelines Section 1: Physical-Chemical properties 117: Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water), HPLC Method 123: Partition Coefficient (1-Octanol/Water): Slow-Stirring Method Section 4: Health effects 406: Skin Sensitisation 425: Acute Oral Toxicity: Up-and-Down Procedure 442D: In Vitro Skin Sensitisation: ARE-Nrf2 Luciferase Test Method

Meeting of the Expert Group on in vitro Developmental Neurotoxicity, 8-10 March 2022 (virtual meeting) The Expert Group discussed the draft guidance document prior to its dissemination to the WNT for review/comments in May 2022. A second review round is currently under preparation. The tiered testing strategy will be prepared as an addendum to the guidance. A separate document is also under development that reviews the state of the science as regards the use of zebrafish in DNT testing and includes efforts to standardise the zebrafish light-dark transition assay. Additional chemical testing using the in vitro battery of 17 assays, development of new case studies and engagement in efforts to achieve assay reproducibility and interlaboratory transferability are expected in 2023.

TEST GUIDELINES

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 15

34th Meeting of the Working Party of the National Coordinators of the Test Guidelines Programme, 26-29 April 2022 (hybrid format) The annual meeting approved 7 new Test Guidelines and a number of updated an corrected TGs as described above. Nine documents providing guidance, detailed reviews, validation reports and peer-review reports were approved and declassified (see list of publications below). Twenty project proposals were approved on the work plan to develop new TGs, update existing TGs, develop other TG supporting documents. A proposal to organise a workshop in December 2022 to discuss possible adaptations of the Test Guidelines Programme, in relation to validation practices for complex methods and emerging technologies was discussed and approved; the workshop is preceded by a series of webinars on topics prioritised by the WNT to help prepare National Coordinators for discussions in December. The WNT discussed the working practices within expert groups and the opportunity to transform informal groups that have been in activity on diverse issues (i.e. advisory bodies) into official subsidiary bodies of the related Working Parties. The case of the Extended Advisory Group on Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics was discussed, as the group is exploring a broad spectrum of new approach methods. While there are opportunities to better engage the group with the Working Parties, there are also efficiencies to be gained. It was agreed that further discussion was needed in 2022 with the WPHA and EAGMST, including joint discussion of the 3 bureaux/co-chairs, to shape the future of this Advisory Body. Finally, the WNT agreed to launch a new Thyroid Disruption Methods Expert Group to organise the development of test methods in this area, including the follow-up from the EU NETVAL activities on in vitro methods.

Meeting of the Expert group on Thyroid Disruption Methods, 7 and 17 June 2022 (virtual meeting) The newly formed Expert Group met to discuss the next steps with in vitro assays coming to completion from the EU-NETVAL activities. In these activities, a detailed protocol has been established, experiments within labs and between labs have been performed to show the results are reproducible. A number of methods were prioritised as more advanced and/or more mature: TPO-AUR, DIO1, NIS, TYRO-IOD. Small assessment groups (3-4 experts) have been formed to evaluate data available, and identify further experimental work needed, or the development of a Test Guideline. These assessment activities are on-going until approximately Q2 2023, each assay at their own pace. The expert group is meeting in early November 2022 to discuss progress and next steps in integrating assays together.

Meeting of the Extended Advisory Group on Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics (EAGMST), 20-21 June 2022 (hybrid format) Issues related to the regulatory relevance and application of AOPs were addressed on the agenda, noting there is a positive trend in the evaluation of proposals by countries, the group will also work on better tracking AOP applications. A session on the omics reporting framework was organised to understand the different possible applications and the level of readiness. The group agreed to set-up an omics sub-group who could then make project proposals. The group also took note of agreements signed with scientific journals and the OECD for the scientific review and publication of AOPs, and related activities to get more journals on-board. A number of developments of the AOP-KB were presented and very well received by the group.

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 16

Webinar Series on Testing and Assessment Methodologies A webinar to promote the newly adopted Test Guideline 467 on Defined Approaches on Eye Irritation for Liquids was organised on 27 September 2022.

https://youtu.be/GbipL72Py44

Recent publications - Series on Testing and Assessment No. 156

No. 356

Guidance Notes on Dermal Absorption Studies- Second Edition

Performance Standards for the Assessment of Proposed Similar or Modified in Vitro Phototoxicity: Reconstructed Human Epidermis (RhE) Test Methods for Testing of Topically Applied Substances

No. 303

Performance Standards for the assessment of proposed similar or modified in vitro skin sensitisation DPRA and ADRA test methods – Second Edition No. 304

Validation Study Report of The Amino Acid Derivative Reactivity Assay (ADRA) – Second Edition No. 352

Validation Report on Particle and Fibre Size Distribution Measurements of Nanomaterials No. 353

Validation report for the Test Guideline for the Rapid Androgen Disruption Activity Reporter (RADAR) assay No. 354

Supporting Document for Evaluation and Review of Draft Guideline (GL) For Defined Approaches (DAs) for Serious Eye Damage / Eye Irritation No. 355

The Peer Review Report for TG 492B on Time-to-toxicity method for eye irritation

No. 357

Supporting document to the Genomic Allergen Rapid Detection Test Method for Skin Sensitisation (GARD™skin) No. 358

Detailed Review Paper on the miniaturised versions of the bacterial reverse gene mutation test No. 359

Study Report and Preliminary Guidance on the Adaptation of the In Vitro micronucleus assay (OECD TG 487) for Testing of Manufactured Nanomaterials No. 360

Detailed Review Paper On In Vitro Tests Addressing Immunotoxicity With A Focus On Immunosuppression

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 17

Forthcoming events 2-4 November 2022 (Virtual) Thyroid Disruption Methods Expert Group 7-8 November 2022 (Hybrid meeting) Validation Management Group for Ecotoxicity Testing,

1-2 December 2022 Workshop of the WNT on Validation issues and Emerging Technologies TBD Expert Group on Eye irritation test methods

8 and 14 November 2022 (Virtual) Expert Group on alternative methods in Skin Sensitisation

Contacts Anne GOURMELON

Mar GONZALEZ

Nathalie DELRUE

Magdalini SACHANA

Leon Van DER WAL

Eugene CHOI

Yusuke OKU

Lesley SMITH

Website www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/testing/

GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICIE

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 18

Good Laboratory Practice and Compliance Monitoring

The Working Group on Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) works to facilitate and support the implementation by member countries and interested non-members of the Council Acts related to Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD), by promoting a common understanding of, and harmonised approaches to, technical and administrative matters related to Good Laboratory Practice and monitoring of compliance with the GLP Principles. These Principles are quality standards for the organisation and management of test facilities and for performing and reporting studies.

On-site evaluations Under OECD’s on-site evaluation activity, each GLP Compliance Monitoring Programme (CMP) in OECD and full adherent countries is evaluated every ten years. These evaluations enhance confidence that receiving authorities are provided accurate and complete assessments of the conduct of non-clinical health and environmental safety studies and of the quality of the data. All on-site evaluation visits for 2020 and 2021 have been postponed to 2022 or later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven on-site evaluation visits are scheduled in 2022: Korea, Norway, US-EPA, India, Argentina, Japan (Pesticides, Veterinary Products and Feed Additives) and France (Industrial Chemicals). As of October, two evaluations have been conducted (US-EPA and India) and five are scheduled for November/December. Seven on-site evaluations visits are scheduled in 2023: Malaysia, Australia, Finland, Greece, Japan (Industrial Chemicals), Netherlands and Belgium.

Guidance Documents In 2020, the Working Party established a sub-group – lead by Belgium, France (Medical Products) and Switzerland - to follow up on new and emerging technologies that may pose a challenge for regulatory GLP compliance (cloudbased solutions, artificial intelligence for histopathology analysis, block chain, predictive models (e.g. (Q)SAR) and other advanced technology equipment). The aim of the sub-group is to monitor the status and issues associated with these technologies, and, when appropriate, propose the development of specific guidance to the Working Party for eventual publication. A draft document on GLP and Cloud-computing, drafted by a drafting group lead by Belgium and France (Medical Products) was reviewed by the Working Party in 2021. The document addresses issues raised by the use of cloud applications that need to be solved by GLP test facilities and outlines what GLP inspectors expect to be available to allow the compliance verification of such technical solutions. This document will be developed as Supplement 1 to the Document Number 17: Advisory Document on the Application of GLP Principles to Computerised Systems. It was further reviewed by the Working Party in 2022 and released for public comment. The updated draft Supplement 1 on Cloud computing is expected to be finalised at the 37th meeting of the Working Party on GLP in March 2023. A document on emerging technologies will also be developed by the drafting group lead by Belgium and France (Medical Products). This document aims at generically addressing the basic principles for facilities for implementing new technologies in accordance with GLP. An outline of the contents of the document will be discussed at the 37th meeting of the Working Party on GLP in March 2023. The 34th meeting of the Working Party in 2020 also agreed to re-evaluate OECD Consensus Document No.4 on Quality Assurance (QA) and GLP to cover risk-based QA programmes and/or a possible document about tools of quality improvement that could be used in GLP. A drafting group, under the leadership of the UK and France (Medical Products), developed an advisory document replacing Document No 4 on Quality Assurance. In addition, a document on tools for quality improvement in GLP, was prepared as a position paper under the leadership of the UK and France (Medical Products). Both documents were published in September 2022.

GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICIE

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 19

In 2018, Working Party members agreed there would be value in developing a Best Practice Guide (BPG) or other approaches for imparting knowledge to individuals who may participate in on-site evaluation visits in the future, and what such guidance should include. The Working Party would also consider whether it would be best to present this information in a BPG for conducting on-site evaluations, on-line/e-learning training, in-person training, or a combination of these approaches for conducting on-site evaluations. The Working Party agreed to the development of a new internal webpage which was created in 2020 containing training and guidance documents that are currently available or will be generated in the future regarding the conduct of on-site evaluations. An ad hoc subgroup, under the leadership of New Zealand, has been established to identify existing or develop new guidance. A training session for new or less experienced on-site evaluators was organised just prior to the 36th Working Party meeting in April 2022. The subgroup also prepared draft internal guidance for participating in on-site evaluations as an observer and draft internal guidance for selecting on-site evaluation team members. These documents were discussed at the 36th meeting of the Working Party on GLP in 2022. At the 36th WG GLP meeting, the Working Party agreed to develop new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on formulation analysis of test items in a vehicle. The new FAQs have been published on the OECD website in October 2022. At the 35th Working Party meeting it was agreed to further share experience related to IT inspections. A community site to share informal discussions and documents related to IT inspections was created in 2021 for nominated GLP inspectors. In addition, webinars of case studies on IT inspection by experienced inspectors were held to share approaches in October 2021, January 2022 and September 2022. The 15th OECD GLP training course in Montreal, Canada originally scheduled from 24 to 28 October 2021 will be held 23-27 October 2022. A steering group will continue to organise the training course. The 16th OECD GLP Training Course will be held in Mexico in 2024. The first steering group meeting will be held on 12 March 2023 prior to the 37th meeting of the Working Party on GLP.

Recent publications in the Series on Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Compliance Monitoring No. 23 Advisory Document on Quality Assurance and GLP

No. 24 Position Paper on Quality Improvement Tools and GLP

Forthcoming events

Contacts

Website

12-14 March 2023 37th Meeting of the Working Group on GLP Maryland, US

Eeva LEINALA Yusuke OKU

www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ testing/good-laboratorypracticeglp.htm

23-27 October 2022 Montreal, Canada OECD GLP Training Course

MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE OF DATA

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 20

Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD)

The 1981 OECD Council Decision on the Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) is built on the OECD Test Guidelines and Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). It requires OECD governments to accept non-clinical environment and health safety data developed for regulatory purposes in another country if these data were generated in accordance with the Test Guidelines and GLP Principles, thus increasing efficiency and effectiveness of chemical notification and (re-) registration procedures for governments and industry. A 1989 Council Decision-Recommendation on Compliance with GLP sets the framework for recognition of compliance assurance among governments. The MAD system has been open to non-OECD countries since 1997.

There are now seven partner countries that are full adherents to MAD: Argentina, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand. Non-clinical health and environmental safety data generated in these countries must be accepted for regulatory purposes in OECD and other adhering countries. At the moment, full adherence for Argentina only applies to industrial chemicals, pesticides and biocides. The Secretariat continues to work with several other countries in view of their possible provisional adherence to the MAD Council Acts.

Contacts Eeva LEINALA Yusuke OKU

EVALUATION AND UPDATING OF LEGAL INSTRUMENTS ON CHEMICAL

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 21

Evaluation and updating of legal instruments (“acquis”) on chemicals

With a view to strengthen and maximise the impact of OECD legal instruments, an OECD-wide standardsetting review was launched by means of letters sent by the Secretary-General to all Chairs of substantive Committees. The goal of the review is to ensure that OECD legal instruments continue to respond, in a timely manner, to the new challenges that governments are facing, thereby strengthening their impact and relevance for the Membership and beyond.

Intellectual Property rights related to chemical safety data On 14 September 2021, the OECD Council amended the Recommendation on the Access and the Protection of Proprietary Rights to Non-Clinical Health, Safety and Environmental Data and Information on Chemicals. The 1983 version of the Recommendation solely focused on protecting the proprietary rights associated with safety data of new chemicals, e.g. by recommending that authorities responsible in Adherents for receiving notifications of new chemicals not accept from a notifier health, safety, and environmental data for which the notifier cannot provide a certification of the right of use. The amended Recommendation expanded the scope to include existing chemicals, including pesticides, biocides and nanomaterials to cover all the product types within the mandate of the OECD Environment, Health and Safety Programme. This revised instrument also recommends that governments disclose as much information as possible in an open and transparent fashion to increase citizens’ trust in regulatory decision-making while protecting the proprietary rights of companies. A Best Practice Guide (BPG) was developed to support the implementation of the Recommendation. It provides a collection of existing good approaches by governments and industry for disclosing health, safety and environmental data while protecting their proprietary rights. The BPG was published on 8 July 2022.

Contacts

Website

Sylvie PORET Berrak ERYASA

http://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ oecdcouncilactsrelatedtochemicals.htm

Legal acts related to chemical accidents Work continued on finalising the draft Council Decision-Recommendation on Chemical Accidents Prevention, Preparedness and Response, aiming to update and consolidate in a single instrument three of the four current Acts related to chemical accidents issued between 1988 and 2004. The draft new instrument was presented at the CBC meeting in February 2022 for initial feedback and is being revised, taking into account comments expressed by delegations. Two webinars were held in May 2022 for explaining the new legal instrument and main improvements brought to the existing Acts. The revised draft will be discussed at the meeting of the Working Party on Chemical Accidents on 25-27 October, and then refined for submission to the CBC and Council expected during early 2023.

Contacts

Website

Bertrand DAGALLIER Marie-Ange BAUCHER

http://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ oecdcouncilactsrelatedtochemicals.htm

EVALUATION AND UPDATING OF LEGAL INSTRUMENTS ON CHEMICAL

ASSISTANCE WITH GOVERNANCE . 22

Recommendation on the Safety of Recombinant-DNA Organisms The responsibility for the Recommendation of the Council Concerning Safety Considerations for Applications of Recombinant-DNA Organisms in Industry, Agriculture and Environment (1986) was transferred from the Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy to the Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee in January 2020. The update of the instrument is conducted jointly by the Working Party on the Harmonisation of the Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology and the Working Party on the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds. A first draft updated Recommendation was discussed by delegates in May 2022. The revised text is being prepared and should be circulated to Working Party members by the end of the year for final remarks. Once refined, a consultation will be organised with the Working Party on Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies. The final draft is expected to be submitted to the CBC and to Council during the first half of 2023.

Contacts

Website

Bertrand DAGALLIER Akihiro KAGSHIMA Ryoko MACHIDA

http://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ oecdcouncilactsrelatedtochemicals.htm

Recommendation on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control The Environmental Policy Committee (EPOC) meeting in December 2021 discussed updating OECD standards on the environment, including revising the Recommendation of the Council on integrated pollution prevention and control (“IPPC Recommendation”), in the context of building EPOC’s Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) for 202324. This work was later incorporated into EPOC’s PWB for 2023-2024 and envisages this work being done together with the Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee (CBC). The 2nd Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee meeting in February 2022 agreed upon the Phase III proposal on the OECD Best Available Techniques (BAT) project, including considerations related to the revision of the IPPC Recommendation. The draft general directions was submitted to EPOC and the CBC for review in October 2022, which outlines the rationale for revising the Council Recommendation, elements to be considered for such a revision, and next steps. Following the initial consultation with EPOC and the CBC, the Secretariat will prepare a draft revised Recommendation based on the elements identified above, taking into account comments from the two bodies, and transmit it to relevant EPOC’s and the CBC’s Working Parties for a detailed discussion of the draft revisions in the course of 2023. Ultimately, any draft revisions would need to be approved by EPOC before being transmitted to the Council, via the Executive Committee, for adoption.

Contacts

Website

Koki TAKAKI Berrak ERYASA

https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instruments/ OECD-LEGAL-0256

III. Support for Capacity Building

ECHEMPORTAL

SUPPORT FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT . 24

eChemPortal

The OECD eChemPortal, launched in 2007, offers free public access to information on properties and hazards of chemicals, exposure and use and reviewed chemical classification information. It provides direct access to critical scientific information prepared for government chemical review programmes. eChemPortal allows for simultaneous search of data from multiple international databases and provides clearly described sources and quality of data.

eChemPortal - The Global Portal to Information on Chemical Substances is a web portal that provides free public access to information on properties of chemicals. eChemPortal version 3.9 was released in March 2022. This maintenance release includes an alignment with updated elements of the OECD HarmonisedTemplates (OHT) in 2021. Nine additional studies including 364 substance records were added to the Combined Exposures database. This database includes a variety of studies where chemicals are grouped together for a risk assessment that is usually limited to one or a few human health or environmental endpoint(s).

Watch our promo video on eChemPortal eChemPortal brings you worldwide information about chemicals in a one-stop source. At a glance, find information on chemicals, pesticides and biocides to support health and environmental decision making. Everything you need to know on chemicals is available through 3 different searches: substance search, property search and classification and labelling search. https://youtu.be/DJz8vO1FQok

Fothcoming event

Contact

Website

18-19 April 2023 (TBC) Meeting of the Steering Group for the Development of the Global Portal

Sally DE MARCELLUS Kamila LIS

www.oecd.org/ehs/eChemPortal

DISSEMINATION OF OECD PRODUCTS

SUPPORT FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT . 25

Dissemination of OECD Products

All of the products of the OECD Environment, Health and Safety Programme are available free of charge to the general public via the internet. Additional work is devoted to improving the overall dissemination and the use of the products of the Environment, Health and Safety Programme.

Capacity-Building for the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste The IOMC Toolbox for Decision-Making in Chemicals Management is a problem-solving tool that enables countries to identify the most appropriate and efficient national actions to address specific national problems related to chemicals management. It is managed by the Inter-Organisation Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC). Since February 2022, updates of the IOMC Toolbox were prepared and will soon be published such as a reorganised Occupational Safety and Health Management Scheme and the Legal and Institutional Framework element in the Industrial Chemicals Management Scheme. Several capacity building (online) events were organised for Kenya and the Philippines, focusing on Pesticides management, Green chemistry, Chemical leasing, Occupational safety and health management system and the WHO Chemicals Road Map. A web presentation was provided to Oman on Chemical accident prevention, preparedness and response. Training presentations were provided to Georgia and Haïti on the IOMC Toolbox and on the Industrial Chemicals Management Scheme in particular. A discussion on how the IOMC Toolbox can help countries set up or improve there chemicals management schemeswas held at the Community of Practice of Cape Town University. A workshop to support chemicals management in Serbia by using the IOMC Toolbox was organised in October. A presentation on chemical accidents and on industrial chemicals will also be organised at a workshop in Jordan at the end of October. Other capacity building activities outside the IOMC Toolbox project were carried-out; workshops on pesticides inspection and countering illegal pesticides were organised on 6-10 June 2022 in Senegal and on 20-21 September 2022 in Ivory Coast.

Contacts

Websites

Sylvie PORET Valérie FRISON

http://iomctoolbox.oecd.org www.oecd.org/env/ehs/developmentcooperation-sound-management-chemicals. htm

IV. Risk Management

RISK REDUCTION (INCLUDING SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS)

RISK MANAGEMENT. 27

Risk reduction (including socio-economic analysis)

The activities of the programme on risk management of chemicals are focused on how to manage the use of chemical products so that society can take advantage of their benefits while minimising risks . This includes: the sharing of risk management approaches; collaboration to advance sustainable chemistry; the development and sharing of methodologies and approaches for alternatives and socio-economic assessment as well as to support substitution of harmful chemicals; and the collaboration on risk management approaches on specific chemicals.

The Working Party on Risk Management was formed in early 2021. The Working Party oversees the work on risk reduction and sustainable chemistry.

Valuation of health effects The Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee’s Working Party on Risk Management and the Environmental Policy Committee’s Working Party on Integrating Economic and Environmental Policies are collaborating on the design of coordinated valuation studies. This entails the conduct of several valuation studies (e.g. studies surveying the willingness to pay to avoid certain health impacts or environmental outcomes) with a focus first on morbidity endpoints relevant to chemicals exposure in different OECD countries. The concept is to coordinate the development of the survey instrument, implement the survey using the consolidated instrument and analyse and compare the valuation results. Additional endpoints, including environmental endpoints, could then be considered. Five survey instruments for endpoints including asthma, chronic kidney disease, I.Q. loss, fertility loss, (very) low birth weight have been implemented with results to be published by early 2023. In addition, survey instruments have been developed for the next five endpoints and implementation will begin in Q4 2022.

Contacts Eeva LEINALA Marie-Ange BAUCHER

Websites http://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/costs-benefits-chemicals-regulation.htm

RISK REDUCTION (INCLUDING SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS)

RISK MANAGEMENT. 28

Perfluorinated chemicals The OECD/UNEP Global Perfluorinated Chemicals Group was established in 2012 to facilitate the exchange of information on PFASs (Per and Poly- Fluoro Alkyl Substances) and to support a global transition towards safer alternatives. Reports that have recently been published or will be published in Q4 2022 include: l

A report on PFASs and Alternatives in Coatings, Paints and Varnishes (CPVs): Commercial Availability and Current Uses. A report on the hazard profile of the alternatives identified is under development.

A report on Understanding Side Chain Polymeric PFAS and Their Life Cycle.

The OECD’s PFAS web-portal was updated with new risk reduction information from countries and OECD publications in 2022. The Group regularly organises webinars to share information on PFASs and risk management. The recording of all webinars can be accessed from the OECD PFASs webportal at: oe.cd/pfas-videos.

Watch our latest webinar: Moving to safer alternatives On 12 October 2022, the OECD presented the main conclusions of the two published OECD reports on Commercial Availability and Current Uses of Alternatives in Food Packaging (paper and paperboard) and in Coatings, Paints and Varnishes (CPVs). It also presented the work of the venture capital company Safer Made looking at means of investments in risk reduction projects. https://youtu.be/eoVgVua3Zkk

Recent publications - Perfluorinated Chemicals No. 70

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Alternatives in Coatings, Paints and Varnishes (CPVs)

Contacts Eeva LEINALA Marie-Ange BAUCHER

Websites http://oecd.org/env/ehs/risk-management http://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/portal-perfluorinated-chemicals/

SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY (INCLUDING SUSTAINABLE PLASTICS, ALTERNATIVES ASSESSMENT AND SUBSTITUTION

RISK MANAGEMENT . 29

Sustainable chemistry (including sustainable plastics, alternatives assessment and substitution)

A workshop on Flexible Food Grade Packaging: Economic, Regulatory or Technical Barrieirs to Sustainable Design from a Chemical Perspective – How can policy makers help? was organised on 12-13 May 2022. Two reports have been developed as background documents for the workshop. A report outlines the challenges that industry faces in sustainable design of flexible-food-grade packaging from a chemicals perspective. This report is based on feedback directly from a number of industry actors along the value chain. The second report documents policy approaches or initiatives that have been put into place (or are about to be put into place) to enable or incentivise more sustainable design of plastics from a chemicals perspective by governments. A workshop was held on 20-21 September 2022 on government/regulatory approaches put in place by countries to incentivise and lead substitution or risk reduction and where governments can learn from non-regulatory approaches. This includes discussion of lessons learned and where countries have seen their policy approaches successfully supporting substitution. Three reports were developed in the framework of the workshop: l

An update of the Cross Country Analysis of Approaches to support Substitution and Alternatives Assessment that was initially published in 2019;

A document on Third-Party Approaches to Support Substitution;

A document on Economic Instruments to incentivise substitution of chemicals of concern.

The content of the OECD Substitution and Alternatives Assessment Toolbox has been transferred to a new OECD webpage. The new webpage regroups from the toolbox the list of alternatives assessment tools (Hazard Assessment (HA) and non-HA), data sources, frameworks, case studies, toolkits and product rating systems as well as all the OECD publications on the topic.

Forthcoming events

Contacts

Website

2-3 October 2023 3rd Meeting of the Working Party on Risk Management

Eeva LEINALA

https://www.oecd.org/ chemicalsafety/risk-management/

Marie-Ange BAUCHER

V. Development of Instruments for the Assessment and Management of Pesticides and Biocides

PESTICIDES

DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDES & BIOCIDES. 31

Pesticides

The Pesticide Programme aims to harmonise the testing and assessment of agricultural pesticides and to promote work sharing and risk reduction. It achieves this by helping countries to co-operate in the review of both chemical and biological pesticides used in agriculture.

Pesticide Residue Chemistry Expert Group (RCEG) The pesticide Residue Chemistry Expert Group (RCEG) is currently finalising the work on a revision of the 2009 Guidance Document on Definition of Residue. Chapters have been drafted to address general topics as well as specific matters related to residue definitions for enforcement, residue definitions for risk assessment, Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC), conversion factors, exposure considerations, and interpretation of results from studies with multiple radiolabel positions. The group is also finalising the development of a new Guidance Document and Test Guideline on residues in honey. The document will contain a decision tree to set Maximum Residue Limits in honey, considerations on the use of the plant residue definition for risk assessment and in certain circumstances the processed commodities residue definition for honey, protocols suitable to quantify residues in honey and flowcharts/ scenarios dealing with infield weeds, off field crops and rotational crops.

OECD Network on Illegal trade of Pesticides The Slovak Republic, in cooperation with the OECD Network on Illegal trade of Pesticides (ONIP), organised a training entitled “Identification of Illicit Trafficking in Pesticides” in the Slovak Republic on 16-17 February 2022. The continued dissemination of the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Countering the illegal trade of Pesticides, the accompanying Best Practice Guidance (BPG) and ONIP activities in the SAICM context continues, and were discussed in the ninth ONIP meeting on 14 June 2022. This included the participation of ONIP experts in OECD capacity building exercises, a possible update of the BPG, and possible additional ONIP trainings.

Expert Group on the Electronic Exchange of Pesticide Data (EGEEPD) The Expert Group on the Electronic Exchange of Pesticide Data (EGEEPD) met virtually on 10-11 May ’22 2022 and agreed to submit to the Working Party on Pesticides (the WPP) a proposal for a provisional project lead by Australia to develop an eLabel Data Standard for plant protection product labels. The WPP agreed to the first Phase of the project which entails a survey (Jul-Sep 2022) to gauge feasibility and determine international engagement for the provisional project. The Project lead (Australia) determined that the Phase I survey of the WPP (20 July – 23 September 2022) on feasibility did not indicate adequate international engagement to move the project forward.

Expert Group on Bio-Pesticides (EGBP) As regards the work of the Expert Group on Bio-Pesticides (EGBP) organised a Conference on ‘Innovating Microbial Pesticide Testing’ that was held in September 2022 in Paris, France that was supported by the OECD Co-operative Research Programme (CRP): Sustainable and Food Agricultural Systems. The Conference programme, abstracts, speakers’ biographies and other conference materials are available on the conference website. Two scoping documents outlining the challenges and future perspectives for testing and for assessing the safety of microbial pesticides with respect to both human health and non-target organisms were circulated in advance of the Conference. Following review, they are expected to be made available in the scientific literature, but accessible through the conference webpage. The guidance documents on bacteriophages and baculoviruses are finalised and close to publication. A revision of the Issue Paper on Microbial Contaminants Limits for Microbial Pest Control Products is also expected in the beginning of 2023.

PESTICIDES

DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDES & BIOCIDES . 32

Ad Hoc Expert Group on RNAi-based Pesticides The Ad Hoc Expert Group on RNAi-based Pesticides is finalising the Working Document on Human Health Risks from the Application of sprayed or externally applied dsRNA-Based Pesticides.

Recent publications - Series on Pesticides No. 107

Report of the 11th Expert Group on Biopesticides Seminar on Different Aspects of Efficacy Evaluation of Biopesticides

The OECD project on Pesticides is being implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.

Fothcoming events 27 February – 3 March 2023,

28- 29 September 2023 (tentative)

Meeting of the Working Party on Pesticides, the Expert Group on Bio-Pesticides, and of the OECD Network on Illegal trade of Pesticides (ONIP)

Meeting of the Expert Group on the Electronic Exchange of Pesticide Data, face-to-face (& hybrid) or virtual to be determined

Contacts Patience BROWNE Leon VAN DER WAL Magdalini SACHANA Sally DE MARCELLUS Chrsitiana OLADINI-JAMES

Website www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/pesticides-biocides/agriculturalpesticides.htm

BIOCIDES

DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDES & BIOCIDES . 33

Biocides

Work on Biocides (non-agricultural pesticides) closely parallels the work on agricultural pesticides: harmonisation of testing of product release rates to the environment and efficacy to ensure the validity of label claims, producing emission scenarios and promoting sharing of information about risk reduction approaches.

Two Guidance Documents, on the efficacy of insecticides against bed bugs and tropical ants have been approved by the Working Party on Biocides and the Working Party of of the National Coordinators to the Test Guidelines Programme (WNT) and subsequently declassified by the CBC. Both guidance documents will be published in Q4 2022 in both the Series on Biocides and the Series on Testing and Assessment. On 28-29 September 2022, during the 6th meeting of the Working Party on Biocides (WPB), the WPB approved the amended Guidance on Principles for Claim Development of Treated Articles (Series on Biocides No. 15), which was amended to include information about insecticides claims. The amended guidance will be forwarded to the CBC for declassification in Q4 2022 with subsequent publication. Additionally, the WPB decided to continue the activity to develop general principles on sustainable management of biocides, following up on the 2021 publication Towards a Sustainable Use of Biocides (Series on Biocides No.17). The WPB also exchanged information on antimicrobial resistance, a topic of high interest, in a dedicated session but needs to reflect on possible follow-up actions.

The OECD project on Biocides is being implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.

Forthcoming event

Contacts

Website

Sylvie PORET TBD 7 Meeting of the Working Group on Biocides th

Leon VAN DER WAL Paula VICENTE BENITO

www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ pesticides-biocides/biocides.htm

DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTS FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENTOFHAZARDOUSCHEMICALSFROMINSTALLATIONS AND PRODUCTS

VI. Development of instruments to assist countries in dealing with releases of hazardous chemicals from installations and products

CHEMICAL ACCIDENTS

RELEASES OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS FROM INSTALLATIONS AND PRODUCTS . 35

Chemical Accidents

The Chemical Accidents Programme works to develop guidance on prevention of, preparedness for, and response to chemical accidents. It facilitates the sharing of information and experiences of both OECD and non-member countries. The Programme is managed by the Working Group on Chemical Accidents (WGCA).

A Brochure to raise awareness of Natech risk, entitled “The Impact of Natural Hazards on Hazardous Installations”, was published at the end of February 2022. The project report on Chemical Accidents Involving Nanomaterials was issued in July 2022. A number of documents are being developed and are close to completion: l

The Third Edition of the Guiding Principles on Chemical Accidents Prevention, Preparedness and Response;

An updated and consolidated Decision-Recommendation on chemical accidents prevention, preparedness and response; two webinars for explaining the draft legal instrument and improvements brought to existing Acts were held in May 2022;

A Guidance on the Benefits of Regulations for Chemical Accidents.

In terms of outreach activities, the Chemical Accidents programme was presented on several occasions: to Oman at a capacity building event in February, South Africa at SAICM webinar in April, Bangladesh at the Industrial Safety Forum in May, and Jordan at the end of October. Other events organised in cooperation with partner agencies were: l

In cooperation with UNECE, meeting of the Steeering Committee on National Policy Dialogue on Industrial Safety in Serbia held in March 2022;

UN/OECD Seminar on the Management of Industrial Accidents triggered by Natural Hazards in the UNECE and OECD regions to be held on 29 November 2022, in the framework of the CoP-12 of the UNECE Industrial Convention.

Recent publications - Series on Chemical Accidents No. 34:

Chemical Accidents Involving Nanomaterials: Potential Risks and Review of Prevention, Preparedness and Response Measures – Project Report

Forthcoming event 25-27 October 2022 32 Meeting of the Working Group on Chemical Accidents

Contacts Bertrand DAGALLIER

24-26 October 2023 33rd Meeting of the Working Group on Chemical Accidents

Marie-Ange BAUCHER Christiana OLADINI-JAMES

Website www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ chemical-accidents/

POLLUTANT RELEASE AND TRANSFER REGISTERS

RELEASES OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS FROM INSTALLATIONS AND PRODUCTS. 36

Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)and Best Available Techniques (BAT)

PRTRs are databases of selected pollutant releases to air, water and soil, and of wastes transferred off-site for treatment or disposal. The programme aims to help individual countries in developing PRTRs, improving release estimation techniques and sharing of data between countries. Furthermore, the programme has started activities on exchanging experience and developing guidance on using Best Available Techniques or similar concepts to reduce environmental pollution.

Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers The Working Party on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (WP-PRTRs) focuses on i) improving PRTRs, ii) harmonising PRTRs across the world, and iii) enhancing the use of PRTR data. The Working Party has started to update the Resource compendium of PRTR release estimation techniques Part I: Summary of techniques for point sources. The work plan was discussed at the 5th meeting of the WP-PRTRs in January 2022. The updated first two chapters were drafted and circulated to the WP-PRTRs for review in August 2022. To assist countries in improving and harmonising their PRTRs, the WG-PRTRs is reviewing and updating the harmonised lists of pollutants and reporting sectors. The draft document of the revised harmonised list of pollutants was declassified and published in July 2022. To promote the use of PRTR data, the WP-PRTRs is compiling information on the Use of PRTR Data and Tools for their presentation. The first list of examples of PRTR data use was prepared and reviewed by the WP-PRTRs. The draft report will be prepared and circulated to the WP-PRTRs for review in Q4 2022. The WP-PRTRs has continued to maintain three databases, Centre for PRTR data, the PRTR Resource Centre, and PRTR. net.

Recent publications - Series on PRTRs No. 26: Harmonised List of Pollutants for Global PRTRs.

Forthcoming event 25-27 January 2023 Paris, France 6th Meeting of the Working Group on PRTRs

Contact

Website

Koki TAKAKI

www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/ pollutant-release-transfer-register/

RELEASES OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS FROM INSTALLATIONS AND PRODUCTS. 37

Best Available Techniques (BAT) The OECD’s project on Best Available Techniques (BAT) for preventing and controlling industrial pollution aims to exchange best practices across countries that already have BAT-based policies, and provide assistance to governments that seek to adopt BAT-based permitting. The Expert Group on BAT, which meets face to face once a year, provides the necessary advice to implement the project. The project has completed its second phase (2019-2021) with the publication of a cross-country comparisons of BAT Reference Documents (BREFs) and associated emission levels for selected sectors. This is to allow international benchmarking and increase the potential of harmonisation of BAT-AELs across countries. At the meeting of the Expert Group on BAT in July 2020, it was agreed to develop comparisons of BREFs for thermal power plants, the textile industry and the cement industry. This report was published in August 2022. The report on Best Available Techniques (BAT) to Prevent and Control Mercury Releases to Land and Water was submitted to the Minamata Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting in June 2022. This report will be the background document for the draft Guidance under-development by the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention. The BAT project has started its third phase in Q3 2022, (2022-2024) after approval of its work-plan by the Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee in February 2022. It consists of three activities: l

Cross-country comparisons of BAT Reference Documents (BREFs) and associated emission levels for selected sectors. At the meeting of the Expert Group on BAT in June 2022, it was agreed to develop comparisons of BREFs for iron & steel producton, paper & pulp production, and waste incinerators.

Capacity building workshops on specific BAT-issues. The focus subjects are to be determined with the countries that express interest in hosting such workshops. At the 2022 Webinar and at the 6th EG meeting, Kazakhstan and India expressed interest.

Acitivity 9: A study on BATs used in the emerging sectors (within the existing BAT-Reference Documents, BREF). At the 2022 Webinar, the EG suggested to focus on plastics. for thermal power plants, textile industry and cement industry. This report will be published in February 2022. The OECD BAT project has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.

Recent publications - Series on BAT No. 71 Activity 6 report, Cross country comparisons of selected BREFs on Thermal Power Plants, Cement production and Textiles manufacturing.

Forthcoming event June/July 2023 (TBC) Webinar on BAT 30-31 October 2023 or 7-8 November 2023 8th OECD Expert Group on BAT

Contacts Berrak ERYASA Koki TAKAKI

Website oe.cd/BAT

VII. Development of instruments in the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight of the Safety of Products of Modern Biotechnology

ENVIRONMENT SAFETY

REGULATION OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY . 39

Environmental Safety

The programme on the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology is focused on environmental risk/safety assessment of transgenic (genetically modified) crops as well as other organisms of commercial interest. It aims to ensure that the information used in risk/safety assessment, as well as the methods used to collect this information, is as similar as possible among regulatory authorities. This improves mutual understanding amongst countries, increases the efficiency of the risk/safety assessment process and avoids duplication of effort. It also reduces barriers to trade.

The Working Party on the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology (WP-HROB) met in May 2022 and agreed on next steps for preparing several consensus documents: biology of wheat (revising the 1999 publication) under the leadership of Australia and the United States, expected for publication early 2023; biology of mosquito Anopheles gambiae (leads: Australia, AUDA-NEPAD and AFSI); Micro-algae (leads: Canada and the United States); and Environmental Considerations for Risk/Safety Assessment for the Release of Transgenic Plants. Three projects jointly developed by the WP-HROB and the Working Party for the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds (WPSNFF) were reviewed at the WPs annual meetings in May 2022: the updating of the OECD Council Recommendation on the Safety of Recombinant-DNA Organisms (2006) for which a revised draft is under preparation; the proposal on enhanced information exchange on new breeding techniques that is being refined and submitted for its adoption in October 2022; and a pilot project conducted to illustrate the proposal on safe-by-design applied to biotechnology products, for which a report will be submitted at the next meeting in April 2023. The OECD Product Database, containing information on genetically-engineered (G.E.) plant varieties approved for being cultivated or used in foods and feeds, continued to be completed and updated. A total of 390 entries of 14 crops, flowers and trees are now available in the system, keeping pace with new information provided by member countries as well as a number of non-members.

Recent publications - Series on the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology No. 71: Developments in Delegations on Biosafety Issues, April 2021 – May 2022 OECD (2022), Safety Assessment of Transgenic Organisms in the Environment – Volume 9, Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology, OECD Publishing, Paris https://doi.org/10.1787/e49bd2e8-en. N.B.: This volume contains the Consensus Documents on the Biology of Crops: Apple, Safflower, Rice (revised), as well as the Revised Points to Consider on Plant Biology Consensus Documents, issued by the Working Party from 2019 to 2021. ‘Biotechnology Update’ / ICGB Newsletter No.41, June 2022, OECD Internal Co-ordination Group on Biotechnology, biotech-update-issue-41-june-2022.pdf (oecd.org)

Forthcoming event 17-19 April 2023 37th meeting of the Working Party on the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology

Contacts Akihiro KAGOSHIMA Bertrand DAGALLIER Natsuo KOMOTO

Website www.oecd.org/biotrack

BIOTECHNOLOGY

REGULATION OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY . 40

The Global Forum on Biotechnology

The Global Forum on Biotechnology, established in 2010, is one of 16 Global Forums created by OECD Committees. Global Forums are generally not official OECD bodies, but are best described as broad communities or networks of stakeholders in the areas of responsibility of one or more Committees. OECD Committees have an interest in hearing the views of these stakeholders, but their capacity to accommodate (non-Member) partners as participants is limited.

Collaboration continues with partner countries and international organisations involved in biosafety, in particular on the occasion of the annual meetings of the OECD Working Parties i) on the Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology, and ii) for the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds in May 2022. These events were attented by delegates from Argentina, Brazil, India, Kenya, Philippines, Paraguay, Uruguay, the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (AUDANEPAD), and other observer Organisations. Thanks to this co-operation developed under the umbrella of the Global Forum on Biotechnology , experts of nonmember economies contribute to on-going projects by drafting documents, providing comments, and sharing information on their latest biosafety and novel food/feed safety developments in the published annual ‘tour-de-table’ documents. In addition, several Partner countries share information on approved GE plant varieties on regular basis for inclusion into the OECD BioTrack Product Database.

Contact Bertrand DAGALLIER

FOOD & FEED SAFETY

REGULATION OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY . 41

Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds

The programme on the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds addresses risk/safety assessment issues related to the products of modern biotechnology, that is, foods and feeds derived from transgenic crops. This improves mutual understanding amongst countries, increases the efficiency of the risk/safety assessment process and avoids duplication of effort, while reducing barriers to trade. The draft Consensus Document on Considerations for Collaborative Work on the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods and Feeds, prepared under the co-leadership of Canada, Australia, the African Biosafety Network of Expertise of AUDANEPAD, and BIAC, was discussed at the meeting of the Working Party for the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds (WPSNFF) in May 2022. A proposal by the Netherlands to develop a new document on the composition of Vicia faba (faba bean, broad bean) was considered and will be submitted for approval in the coming months. The results of two webinars on emerging issues that were successfully implemented in Q4 2021, 1) on potential food safety challenges for cellular agriculture, and 2) on the FAO/WHO feed safety report dealing with new types of feed ingredients, were reviewed at the WP-SNFF meeting; information sharing will continue on these important topics. Work continued on the update of the OECD Council Recommendation on the Safety of Recombinant DNA Organisms, project jointly conducted with the WP-HROB. Other projects are considered for possible joint development with the WP-HROB, including 1) “safe-by-design” applied to biotechnology products, and 2) enhanced information exchange on New Breeding Techniques.

Recent publications - Series on the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds No.35:

Developments in Delegations on the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods and Feeds, April 2021 - May 2022

Forthcoming event 19-21 August 2023 30th Meeting of the Working Group for the Safety and Novel Foods and Feeds.

Contacts Bertrand DAGALLIER Natsuo KOMOTO

Website www.oecd.org/biotrack

EHS CONTACTS . 42

Most EHS Publications can be downloaded directly from OLIS or our website: X www.oecd.org/ehs/publications

If you are unable to find what you are looking for, please contact the Secretariat: X Email: ehscont@oecd.org X Fax: +33 (0)1 44 30 61 80

WEBSITES . 43

WEBSITES Find more information about the EHS work Programme from our homepage and related linked pages:

EHS Homepage Biocides Biosafety and Food/Feed Safety

www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/biocides.htm www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/biotrack/

Chemical Accidents

www.oecd.org/env/accidents

Exposure Assessment

www.oecd.org/env/exposure

Global Portal to Information on Chemical Substances

www.echemportal.org/

Good Laboratory Practice

www.oecd.org/env/glp

Harmonised Templates

www.oecd.org/ehs/templates/

Harmonisation of Classification of Labelling

www.oecd.org/env/classify

Hazard Assessment

www.oecd.org/env/hazard

Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD)

www.oecd.org/ehs/mad

New Chemicals

www.oecd.org/env/newchemicals

Pesticides

www.oecd.org/env/pesticides

Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers

www.oecd.org/env/prtr

(Q)SARS

www.oecd.org/env/hazard/qsar

Risk Assessment

www.oecd.org/env/riskassessment

Risk Management

www.oecd.org/env/riskmanagement

Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials

www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/nanosafety/

Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management

www.oecd.org/env/saicm

Sustainable Chemistry

www.oecd.org/env/sustainablechemistry

Test Guidelines

www.oecd.org/env/testguidelines

ENV/EHS STAFF DIRECTORY . 44

ENV/EHS Staff Directory Email: ehs.contact@oecd.org

NAME

PROGRAMME

PHONE

ABADIE, Fabienne

Resource Management Adviser

19.66

AOYAGI, Tomoko

Hazard Assessment and IATA

98.46

BAUCHER, Marie-Ange

Chemical Accidents, Risk Management, Sustainable Chemistry

94.22

BROWNE, Patience

Pesticides, Hazard Assessment, IATA and QSAR

19.11

CARREGAL ROMERO, Ester

Harmonised Templates, Biotechnology, Nanosafety

61.05

CHOI, Eugene

Test Guidelines

76.98

DAGALLIER, Bertrand

Biotechnology/Food Safety and Chemical Accidents

84.51

DE MARCELLUS, Sally

Hazard Assessment, Pesticides

19.42

DELRUE, Nathalie

Test Guidelines

98.44

DIDERICH, Bob

Head of Division

14.85

ERYASA, Berrak

Best Available Techniques

78.76

FRISON BEAU, Valérie

Capacity Building

89.34

GIBB, Jill

Deputy Resource Management Adviser

93.16

GONZALEZ, Mar

Nanosafety, Test Guidelines

76.96

GOURMELON, Anne

Test Guidelines, IATA

98.49

HEO, Hyein

Nanosafety

49.40

KAGOSHIMA, Akihiro

Biosafety

98.19

KAYES, Byrony

Assistant, PRTRs, Exposure Assessment, BAT, Hazard Assessment

84.07

LEINALA, Eeva

Risk Management, Sustainable Chemistry, GLP and MAD

76.30

LIS, Kamila

eChem Portal

64.12

MACHIDA, Ryoko

Biotechnology/Food Safety

17.08

OKU, Yusuke

Good Laboratory Practices and Test Guidelines

76.19

OLADINI-JAMES, Christiana

Assistant, Pesticides, GLP/MAD, Chemical Accidents,

16.48

PORET, Sylvie

Biocides, Capacity Building, Outreach Programme

89.45

RUBENE, Linda

Assistant to Head of Division and assistant Biotechnology/Food Safety

61.50

SACHANA, Magdalini

Hazard Assessment, Pesticides

64.23

SMITH, Lesley

Assistant, Test Guidelines, Nanomaterials

44.10

TAKAKI, Koki

Exposure Assessment, PRTRs and Best Available Techniques

16.77

THABET, Hannah

Communications and Publications co-ordinator

64.39

VAN DER WAL, Leon

Biocides, Test Guidelines, Pesticides

93.10

VICENTE BONITO, Paula

Assistant,Biocides, Risk Management and Sustainable Chemistry, Global Relations

45.86

WALDMEIER, Esther

Risk Management

86.50

YAMAMOTO, Kimiko

Nanosafety

60.82

The Environment, Health and Safety Progress Report is issued every eight months, between the meetings of the Joint Meeting of the Chemicals Committee and the Working Party on Chemicals, Pesticides and Biotechnology. It provides an update on recent publications, as well as the main recent or upcoming events of the EHS Programme. This report is produced for participants in the Programme’s activities; but the Secretariat hopes that it is also of value to a broader audience with an interest in human health and environmental safety issues connected with the use of chemicals, pesticides and biotechnology.