OECD Test Guidelines (TG) are internationally standardized methods for testing chemicals. Industry, academia and authorities use the data collected with these methods for the evaluation of chemicals (such as industrial chemicals) with regard to their hazards to humans and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary that the TGs be continuously expanded and updated to reflect the state of the art in science and technology. However, a regular review of the OECD TGs has not been provided for in the current procedure so far. The aim of the present project was therefore to identify the OECD TGs that do not currently correspond to the state of the art in science and technology. For this purpose, only the OECD TGs that are used for the assessment of effects on the environment were considered. Based on a detailed questionnaire, a comprehensive survey was conducted to identify the need for revision. Proposals for revising TGs were evaluated in a second survey. Both surveys were open to all interested parties from industry, academia, contract laboratories, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government agencies. After completion of the surveys, the results were discussed in three thematic workshops. Recommendations for the revision of the OECD TGs were developed and prioritized, which were finally presented to the members of the Working Party of National Coordinators for the OECD Test Guidelines Programme (WNT).
Die aktuell in Europa geltenden Luftqualitätsgrenzwerte sind teilweise mehr als 20 Jahre alt und entsprechen nicht den heutigen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen über die gesundheitlichen Auswirkungen von Luftverschmutzung. Im Ergebnis eines umfangreichen Fitness Checks der aktuell geltenden Luftqualitätsrichtlinie hat die EU-Kommission am 26. Oktober 2022 ihren Vorschlag für eine Überarbeitung der Luftqualitätsrichtlinie vorgelegt, dem am 24. April 2024 durch das Europäische Parlament politisch zugestimmt wurde. Die Broschüre stellt die wichtigsten Neuerungen im Vergleich zu den derzeit gelten Luftqualitätsrichtlinien vor.