Increasing international assessment of chemical risks

Improving international cooperation on risk assessment of chemicals
Harmonizing chemical exposure assessment

Description

Increasing international assessment of chemical risks involves coordinated global efforts to systematically identify, evaluate, and manage the hazards posed by chemicals to human health and the environment. This strategy aims to harmonize risk assessment methodologies, share scientific data, and strengthen regulatory frameworks across countries. By fostering collaboration and transparency, it addresses gaps in national capacities, reduces duplication, and ensures timely responses to emerging chemical threats, ultimately minimizing adverse impacts and promoting safer chemical management worldwide.

Implementation

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends expanding and accelerating international assessment of chemical risks. It recommends reviewing strategies for exposure assessment and environmental monitoring to allow for the best use of available resources, to ensure compatibility of data and to encourage coherent national and international strategies for that assessment. In particular it recommends promoting mechanisms to increase collaboration among governments, industry, academia and relevant non-governmental organizations involved in the various aspects of risk assessment of chemicals and related processes, in particular promoting and coordinating research activities to improve understanding of the mechanisms by which toxic chemicals act.