With the aim to accelerate the pace of chemical safety testing and assessment, reduce the use of laboratory animals and to better protect human health and the environment, the Working Party of the National Coordinators to the Test Guidelines Programme (WNT), supported by the OECD Chemicals and Biotechnology Committee, calls for urgent mobilisation of national and regional resources for the demonstration of reproducibility and reliability of methods developed in single laboratories.
The mechanisms and processes in place to facilitate standardisation and validation studies require sustainable and realistic financial support to meet the needs of evolving chemicals regulations. This is a dynamic space that brings key players together, including small businesses, to consolidate robust approaches to achieve relevant and reliable innovative methods for chemicals testing. Read the full call for financial support here.
The OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals are a unique tool for assessing the potential effects of chemicals on human health and the environment. Accepted internationally as standard methods for safety testing, the Guidelines are used by professionals in industry, academia and government involved in the testing and assessment of chemicals (industrial chemicals, pesticides, personal care products, etc.). These Guidelines are continuously expanded and updated to ensure they reflect the state-of-the-art science and techniques to meet member countries regulatory needs. The Guidelines are elaborated with the assistance of experts from regulatory agencies, academia, industry, environmental and animal welfare organisations.
OECD Test Guidelines are covered by the OECD Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) system. Under this system, laboratory test results related to the safety of chemicals that are generated in accordance with OECD Test Guidelines and OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practices are accepted in all OECD countries and adherent countries for the purpose of safety assessment and other uses relating to the protection of human health and the environment.
The OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals are split into five sections:
The full list of adopted Test Guidelines, the draft TGs under public commenting rounds, the draft Guidance and review documents are available on the Test Guidelines Programme.
Publications in the Series of Testing and AssessmentThis Series includes publications related to testing and assessment of chemicals; some of them support the development of OECD Test Guidelines (e.g. validation reports, guidance documents, detailed review papers). |
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The Test Guidelines that have been deleted should not be used for new testing. They are included here because it may be useful to consult them in the framework of the assessment of substances based on old study reports. The guaranties of Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) would not apply if these Test Guidelines were used for new testing.
In November 2012, the Joint Meeting of the Chemicals Committee and Working Party on Chemicals, Pesticides and Biotechnology decided on a transition period of 18 months, between the Council Decision and the effective deletion, for Test Guidelines that have been updated or deleted. For more information, please read the presentation: Update of Test Guidelines and the Mutual Acceptance of Data.
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