Foreword

Since 1988, the Member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have been working with one another and with their chemical industry to systematically investigate High Production Volume (HPV) existing chemicals. These HPV chemicals include all chemicals reported to be produced or imported at level greater than 1,000 tones per year in least one Member country or in the European Union region. The overall objective of the HPV Chemicals  Programme is to use a minimum set of data on these chemicals in order to determine the need for further work.

Since 1998, the HPV Chemicals Programme was re-focused to increase its output and efficiency. By concentrating on characterizing the hazardous properties of HPV chemicals, rather than conducting more detailed initial risk assessments of these substances as had been the case in the past, the need or further work can still be identified and many more chemicals could be assessed. The refocused HPV Chemicals Programme uses only minimum general exposure information to put the hazard information intro context (e.g. use in the Sponsor country).

The set of data elements, which must be available, is known as the "Screening Information Data Set" or SIDS. Based on the data on the SIDS elements and any additional information when it is available and relevant, OECD Member countries co-operatively undertake an initial hazard assessment and draw recommendations regarding the need for further work on the chemicals.

The SIDS Initial Assessment Reports (SIARs) for HPV chemicals sponsored by OECD  Member countries, and in many cases, with input from the global chemical industry are discussed and agreed in a forum comprising experts form governments and industry nominated by the OECD Member countries, as well as experts from non Member countries nominated by the International Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS), the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) and the United Nations Environment Programme Chemicals Branch.

The OECD Council Decision-Recommendation on the Co-operation Investigation and Risk Reduction of Existing Chemicals [C(90) 163/Final of 31 January 1991] requested the Chemicals Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, Chemicals Branch) to make the information obtained from the co-operative investigation of existing chemicals available worldwide.  

  Description of UNEP Chemicals activities for the information dissemination