DECISION OF THE COUNCIL
concerning the Mutual Acceptance of Data in the Assessment of Chemicals [C(81)30(Final)]
(Adopted by the Council at its 535th Meeting on 12th May, 1981)
The Council,
Having regard to Articles 2(a), 2(d), 3, 5(a) and 5(b) of the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of 14th December, 1960;
Having regard to the Recommendation of the Council of 26th May, 1972, on Guiding Principles concerning International Economic Aspects of Environmental Policies [C(72)128];
Having regard to the Recommendation of the Council of 14th November, 1974, on the Assessment of the Potential Environmental Effects of Chemicals [C(74)215];
Having regard to the Recommendation of the Council of 26th August, 1976, concerning Safety Controls over Cosmetics and Household Products [C(76)144(Final)];
Having regard to the Recommendation of the Council of 7th July, 1977, establishing Guidelines in respect of Procedure and Requirements for Anticipating the Effects of Chemicals on Man and in the Environment [C(77)97(Final)];
Having regard to the Decision of the Council of 21st September, 1978, concerning a Special Programme on the Control of Chemicals and the Programme of Work established therein [C(78)127(Final)];
Having regard to the Conclusions of the First High Level Meeting of the Chemicals Group of 19th May, 1980, dealing with the control of health and environmental effects of chemicals [ENV/CHEM/HLM/80.M/1];
Considering the need for concerted action amongst OECD Member countries to protect man and his environment from exposure to hazardous chemicals;
Considering the importance of international production and trade in chemicals and the mutual economic and trade advantages which accrue to OECD Member countries from harmonization of policies for chemicals control;
Considering the need to minimise the cost burden associated with testing chemicals and the need to utilise more effectively scarce test facilities and specialist manpower in Member countries;
Considering the need to encourage the generation of valid and high quality test data and noting the significant actions taken in this regard by OECD Member countries through provisional application of OECD Test Guidelines and OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice;
Considering the need for and benefits of mutual acceptance in OECD countries of test data used in the assessment of chemicals and other uses relating to protection of man and the environment;
On the proposal of the High Level Meeting of the Chemicals Group, endorsed by the Environment Committee;
PART I
DECIDES that data generated in the testing of chemicals in an OECD Member country in accordance with OECD Test Guidelines and OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice shall be accepted in other Member countries for purposes of assessment and other uses relating to the protection of man and the environment.
DECIDES that for the purposes of this decision and other Council actions the terms OECD Test Guidelines and OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice shall mean guidelines and principles adopted by the Council.
INSTRUCTS the Environment Committee to review action taken by Member countries in pursuance of this Decision and to report periodically thereon to the Council.
INSTRUCTS the Environment Committee to pursue a programme of work designed to facilitate implementation of this Decision with a view to establishing further agreement on assessment and control of chemicals within Member countries.
PART II To implement the Decision set forth in Part I:
RECOMMENDS that Member countries, in the testing of chemicals, apply the OECD Test Guidelines and the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice, set forth respectively in Annexes I and II (*) which are integral parts of this text.
INSTRUCTS the Management Committee of the Special Programme on the Control of Chemicals in conjunction with the Chemicals Group of the Environment Committee to establish an updating mechanism to ensure that the aforementioned test guidelines are modified from time to time as required through the revision of existing Guidelines or the development of new Guidelines.
INSTRUCTS the Management Committee of the Special Programme on the Control of Chemicals to pursue its programme of work in such a manner as to facilitate internationally-harmonized approaches to assuring compliance with the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice and to report periodically thereon to the Council.
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(*) Annex I to the Council Decision (the OECD Test Guidelines) was published separately. More information is available on the Test Guidelines. Annex II to the Council Decision includes an Introduction to the OECD Principles of GLP, as well as the GLP Principles themselves.
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