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Stakeholders gathered to discuss how to maximize benefits from PARC
The Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals wants to ensure that stakeholders can participate and actively engage in the Stakeholder Forum (SF) of PARC. For that reason, PARC has invited NGOs, industry, and other associations to the PARC Stakeholder Forum. The members of the Stakeholder Forum contribute feedback and input to maximize the benefits and advantages of PARC, both for achieving PARC objectives as well as for their own activities with similar ambitions.
Output wanted to improve regulation
The first physical Stakeholder Forum held in Athens at the end of June 2023 was a lively and engaging event. In a hybrid setting participants provided 22 inputs on promising and concerning projects, they find it relevant to gather further information about.
The stakeholders expressed interest in project outputs that are relevant for regulatory use and were particularly interested in new knowledge on hazard and exposure assessments, prioritization of chemicals and methods and innovations in regulatory risk assessment.
Stronger documentation of how the general population and workers are affected by aggregate exposures was also of interest to the members of the Stakeholder Forum.
All members need and appreciate up-to-date info from PARC
Some stakeholders highlighted the importance of PARC prioritizing and timing its outputs to be relevant for the users. For instance, timing is important for innovative approaches and the work on alternative testing methods for several types of stakeholders.
The Stakeholder Forum Co-chairs articulated the need for all members to receive further information on the PARC projects prioritization and specific deliverables. The Co-chairs volunteered to act as facilitator on this.
As an example of the need for timely knowledge Emma Grange, one of the Co-chairs, recalled the importance for stakeholders of defining NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) and connecting to the roadmap away from animal testing.
Highlight on PARC SYNnet
Finally, participants highlighted the potential of the PARC SYNnet to build a common understanding and build synergies among stakeholders who share an interest in specific areas of research to enable the next generation of risk assessment in support of regulation.
SYNnet is a network designed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing with other initiatives focusing on environmental, food, and human health issues and organizations working in the field of chemical risk assessment.
"Now, it is the time to “keep the ball rolling”, to define a common way to collect and work with the valuable input and perceptions of the Stakeholder Forum", concluded Maria Uhl and Daniela Zanini-Freitag, the task co-leaders and responsible experts for the organisation of the Stakeholder Forum, at the end of the meeting.