Two Symposia Examine Chemical Toxicity Testing in the US and Beyond

Two upcoming symposia will examine the development of new toxicity testing strategies in the midst of stakeholder negotiations with Congress over the recently introduced Safe Chemicals Act legislation. The meetings follow on to the 2007 National Research Council (NRC) report, "Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy." The "NRC vision calls for a revolution in the science of testing chemicals for toxicity that will draw on major advances in scientific tools that are now available—or are rapidly evolving."

Three years later, how are we implementing these proposed changes, from a legal and policy perspective? What are the obstacles? What remains to be done? These two symposia will offer some answers. Both will be held in Washington DC but in two locations.

The Future of Chemical Toxicity Testing in the US: Creating a Roadmap to Implement the NRC's Vision and Strategy (Monday, June 21, 2010, 8am - 5pm, National Press Club)

The symposium will feature a keynote presentation by USEPA Assistant Administrator Stephen A. Owens and will convene a range of legal, policy, and scientific experts to discuss—

* The status of implementation of the vision for chemical toxicity testing three years after the NRC report was issued.
* What the federal agencies are doing—and planning to do—to ensure implementation of the NRC vision.
* Stakeholder perspectives on implementation across a range of viewpoints: industry, public health and environmental protection, the academy, and animal welfare.
* Where implementation of the NRC vision fits into a landscape of potentially broad legislative reform for toxic substances, harmonization with Canadian requirements, and scarcity of financial resources.

International Harmonization in Chemical Toxicity Testing: An EU Perspective on the Way Forward (Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 8am - 1:15pm, Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies)

EU regulations such as REACH and the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive have highlighted the crucial role of EU-US relations in the field of humane science. This symposium is intended to examine humane science and toxicity testing from the point of view of important EU stakeholders and experts. This half-day program features speakers from the European Commission, as well as policy leaders from major European corporations, member countries and academic institutions.

More information on both symposia, including agendas and speaker information, can be found at the symposia web site.