This element may be more relevant for countries with a chemical manufacturing industry or significant import of chemicals and more developed industrial chemical management frameworks. In order to utilise available resources efficiently hazard data generation can be based on national priorities, informed for example by consideration of exposure potential and hazard information which is already available.
Hazard data generation could also be a task of the industry producing or importing chemicals. In this case, implementation options for government would be limited to reviewing and checking the data supplied by industry. This is covered under the Information/data element.
For the generation of hazard data a government requires the use of laboratory facilities. Setting up such laboratories and running them can be very expensive. One could consider requesting an analysis or test from accredited laboratories when the results are the basis for enforcement. If a government wants to do testing on its own or to complement industries’ testing, the following options could be considered depending on the resources available.
Limited resources
Use other countries’ laboratories or national commercial laboratories funded by donor countries.
Medium resources
Use University laboratories in the country and finance some equipment or pay for the generation of hazard data directly or through donor countries. Alternatively, obtain donor support to set up government laboratories and to run them with your own resources
High resources
Pay external commercial laboratories for the generation of hazard data or to set up government laboratories with your own resources
For hazard, environmental fate, and physical-chemical property testing the OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals and the principles of GLP should be considered to contribute to the mutual acceptance of the data generated between countries. This can help in the coordination of information collection and data sharing between different organisations and countries.
This element is made up of four sub-elements:
1. Hazard testing of chemicals
2. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
3. Animal welfare
4. Data sharing