In this talk I will outline some of the work being done in the OECD around the implementation of chemicals regulations, including how the OECD is helping its member governments to develop and implement high-quality chemicals management policies and instruments. These countries now have science-based, rigorous and comprehensive systems for assessing and managing the risks of chemicals. But implementation of such regulatory systems can be time-consuming and expensive. Therefore OECD countries work together to combine their skills and knowledge, avoid duplication of testing, minimise non-tariff distortions to trade and ultimately be more efficient and effective. I will also describe the current priorities for cooperation at the OECD, namely (i) the evolution of risk assessment methodologies (including the transition towards New Approach Methods); (ii) regulatory and non-regulatory risk management approaches; (iii) data access, exchange and dissemination and (iv) outreach and capacity building.
Bob Diderich has been involved in environmental hazard and risk assessment of chemical substances since 1992, when he joined the German Federal Environmental Agency. He was working in France between 1995 and 2002, first for the French Ministry of the Environment and then the French National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks, where he was assessing the environmental risks of industrial chemicals and biocides. In 2002 he joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development where he was in charge of the OECD Cooperative Chemicals Assessment Programme and the OECD Project on (Quantitative) Structure Activity Relationships. Since 2012 he is the head of the Environment, Health and Safety Division and overseeing of all the OECD's work on chemical safety and biosafety.