NanoHarmony Survey Identifies Challenges in OECD Test Guidelines Development, Will Hold Webinar on March 1

As reported in our July 9, 2021, blog item, NanoHarmony aims to support the development of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guidelines (TG) and guidance documents (GD) for eight endpoints where nanomaterial-adapted test methods have been identified as a regulatory priority. To identify difficulties arising during the development process for TGs and GDs, NanoHarmony asked stakeholders to share their experiences in a short survey. According to NanoHarmony’s February 16, 2022, news item, NanoHarmony received 73 responses from different stakeholder groups, including regulators, developers, and users. NanoHarmony states that in general, OECD TGs/GDs are perceived as a very useful tool. Respondents identified specific needs for updates to or developing new TGs/GDs for nanomaterials. In the next step, NanoHarmony will conduct personal interviews to obtain more in-depth views from a selection of the respondents. NanoHarmony states that it will use the results of the survey and the interviews to map the challenges encountered in the TG/GD development process.

During the first half of 2022, NanoHarmony is hosting a webinar series covering the different phases that an OECD TG progresses through during its journey from a science-based initial idea through to use by industry to fulfill regulatory obligations. NanoHarmony invites all stakeholders to attend to give their opinions and to develop consensus on the barriers and ways of improving the TG process. The webinars will be highly interactive, and attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences, thoughts, and suggestions. The first webinar will be held March 1, 2022, on Phase 4: Using Test Guidelines. Registration is now open.