World Health Organization International Labour Organization United Nations Environment Programme March 2006

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY (IPCS)

COORDINATOR’S REPORT ON IPCS PROGRESS AND ACTIVITIES

June 2004 to December 2005

This report provides information on IPCS activities over the period June 2004 to December 2005, covering the period between meetings of the Standing Committee of the IPCS Programme Advisory Committee. Information is ordered, as previously, according to the following four themes: (1) normative and good practice tools; (2) capacity building in countries through provision of information, tools and technical support; (3) initiatives to address vulnerable populations; and (4) policy coordination and information dissemination. A list of relevant IPCS meetings and workshops is given at Annex 1 and Annex 2 for 2004 and 2005 respectively. A list of donors is given at Annex 3 in recognition of the contribution and support given through specified and unspecified funding.

COORDINATORS REPORT ON IPCS PROGRESS AND ACTIVITIES June 2004 to December 2005

LIST OF ACTIVITIES

1. NORMATIVE AND GOOD PRACTICE TOOLS

1.1 Environmental Health Criteria Documents (EHCs)

1.2 Concise International Chemical Assessment Documents (CICADs)

1.3 Food Safety 1.3.1 JECFA 1.3.2 JMPR

1.3.3 Harmonization of the principles and methods for the risk assessment of chemicals in food

1.3.4 Nutrient Risk Assessment

1.4 Development and Harmonization of Risk Assessment Methodologies 1.4.1 Harmonization Project 1.4.2 Mammalian Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs) 1.4.3 Emerging Issues in Risk Assessment 1.4.3.1 Integrated Risk Assessment 1.4.3.2 Nanotechnology 1.4.3.3 Weight-of-evidence approaches 1.4.4 Endocrine disrupters 1.4.5 Collection and use of harmonized human data 2. CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT TO COUNTRIES

2.1 Chemical incident surveillance, alert and response 2.2 Poisons prevention, information and management 2.3 Network of poisons centres and INTOX 2.4 Training manual on the safe use of pesticides 2.5 Use of risk assessment reports for decision-making 2.6 International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs) 2.7 Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and

Labelling of Chemicals 2.8 WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard 2.9 Chemical exposures in small-scale workplaces

3. VULNERABLE POPULATION GROUPS

3.1 Children 3.2 Promotion of collaborative research 3.3 Use of Toxicogenomics in risk assessment

4. POLICY COORDINATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

4.1 Policy coordination 4.2 Information dissemination 5. CONCLUSION Annex IPCS Events 2004 Annex 2 IPCS Events 2005 Annex 2 List of IPCS Donors

1. NORMATIVE AND GOOD PRACTICE TOOLS 1.1 Environmental Health Criteria Documents

1.1.1 A new EHC on Bentonite, kaolin and selected clay minerals (No .231) has been published. Six Environmental Health Criteria in the (yellow cover) methodology series are underway, i.e. Transgenic Animal Mutagenicity Assays (in print); Principles and Methods for Assessing Autoimmunity Associated with Exposure to Chemicals (in print); Principles and Methods for Evaluating the Health Risks to Children from Exposure to Chemicals (in draft); Dose-Response Characterization (in peer review); and Dermal Absorption (in print) and Elemental Speciation in Risk Assessment (in print). 1.1.2. Building on the WHO assessment work on mercury and its established methodologies for estimating the burden of disease a report is being undertaken to develop an estimate of the burden of disease due to mercury. The following new publication is available free-of-charge on the IPCS and INCHEM web sites (http://www.inchem.org).

Environmental Health Criteria No. 231: Bentonite, kaolin and selected clay minerals. http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/ehc/ehc_231.pdf

1.2 Concise International Chemical Assessment Documents (CICADS)

1.2.1 Work on the preparation of high-quality chemical assessments that can be used by countries to protect human health continues. Six new CICADs have been published and nine CICADs are in the process of being published following their approval by the CICAD Final Review Board. A progress report giving details of all CICADs in preparation (including new proposals) is updated regularly on the IPCS web site. http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/progress/en/index.html 1.2.2 CICAD Final Review Board (FRB) meetings were held in Hanoi, Vietnam, (28 September to 1 October 2004) and in Nagpur, India (31 October to 3 November 2005) together with workshops on chemical safety and risk management, focusing on priorities in the host countries.

Report of the 13th Final Review Board Meeting for CICADs http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/rep_13th_frb.pdf

Report of the 12th Final Review Board Meeting for CICADs http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/en/rep_12th_frb.pdf 1.2.3 A consultative group met in April 2005 to review the weight-of-evidence for the developmental and reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity of tetrachloroethene. The consultation used the IPCS Mode-of-Action Framework for the assessment of human relevance of animal tumours.

The following new publications are available free-of-charge on the IPCS and INCHEM web sites (http://www.inchem.org.).

CICAD (No. 62): Coal tar creosote http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/en/CICAD62.pdf

CICAD (No. 63): Manganese and its compounds: Environmental aspects http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/cicad63_rev_1.pdf

CICAD (No. 64): Butyl acetates http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/cicad64.pdf

CICAD (No. 65): Tin and inorganic tin compounds http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/cicad_65_web_version.pdf

CICAD (No 66): 2,4,6-Tribromophenol and other simple brominated phenols) http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/cicad_66_web_version.pdf

CICAD (No 67) 2-butoxyethanol http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/cicad_67_2_butoxyethanol.pdf

1.3 Food Safety

1.3.1 JECFA

1.3.1.1 The 63rd JECFA meeting was held in June 2004. The Committee evaluated 15 food additives (four for specifications), one natural food constituent (glycyrrhicic acid), and 180 flavouring agents. For approximately 190 additives, limits for individual heavy metals were considered, and for an additional approximately 120 flavouring agents the specifications were reviewed.

1.3.1.2 The 64th JECFA meeting was held in February 2005. It was entirely devoted to the evaluation of contaminants. Compounds evaluated were: acrylamide, ethyl carbamate, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, inorganic tin, and cadmium (for intake assessment only). Several of the contaminants considered have genotoxic and carcinogenic properties and advice on these compounds was formulated. In order to better advise risk management decisions, a new approach for evaluation was applied. Dose-response modelling was applied and the outcome compared to the estimated human exposure, and the relative concern expressed as a Margin of Exposure (MoE).

1.3.1.3 The 65th JECFA meeting was held in June 2005 to evaluate the safety of 15 food additives and over 130 flavouring agents. In addition a number of general aspects were considered including the intake assessment for flavouring agents, application of the concept of threshold of toxicological concern to compounds in food at low intakes and the project to update the principles and methods for the risk assessment of chemicals in food. JECFA publications include the WHO Technical Report Series and the WHO Food Additive Series providing concise toxicological evaluations and detailed descriptions of the biological and toxicological data as well as intake assessments. A brief summary and conclusion from each JECFA meeting is also published on the IPCS web site pending publication of the official reports.

Evaluation of Certain Food Additives. Sixty-third report of the Joint FAO/WHO Exert Committee on Food Additives.

Technical Report Series. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_928.pdf

JECFA Summary Reports, including from the 64th and 65th Meetings http://www.who.int/ipcs/food/jecfa/summaries/en/index.html 1.3.2 JMPR 1.3.2.1 The 2004 Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticides Residues (JMPR) (September 2004) evaluated 31 pesticides. This meeting included discussion of the results of a pilot project on the sharing and use of national/regional evaluations. In the pilot project four national/regional evaluations were systematically compared and their usability as a basis for a JMPR evaluation tested. A number of recommendations were given for further improving the possibility of work sharing on an international basis in order to avoid duplication of work and to better utilize limited resources. 1.3.2.3 The 2005 JMPR was held in Geneva, 20-29 September 2005, and evaluated the safety of 21 pesticides, five of them new, low hazard compounds. The meeting established ADIs and ARfDs where appropriate, and proposed MRLs based on good agricultural practice. JMPR Evaluations are available free-of-charge on the IPCS web site and also the INCHEM web site. Summaries of the conclusions and recommendations from the JMPR meetings are available on the IPCS web site shortly after the meeting and pending publication of the official full report.

JMPR Evaluations 2004. Part II- Toxicological Pesticides residues in food- 2004. Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide

Residues http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/jmpr/draft_jmpr_2004_monograph.pdf

JMPR Evaluations 2005. Part II- Toxicological Pesticide residues in food - 2005. Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/jmpr/draft_jmpr_2005_evaluation.pdf

JMPR Summaries, including from the 2005and 2004 meetings http://www.who.int/ipcs/food/jmpr/summaries/en/index.html

1.3.2.4 Based on a recommendation of the 2003 JMPR, a working group was established to further elaborate on guidance for the setting of acute reference doses (ARfDs). A guidance document was subsequently prepared for a step-wise approach to ARfD setting, including consideration of safety factors, population subgroups and the use of human data. The document includes specific guidance on toxic endpoints relevant for acute toxicity of agricultural pesticides, namely haematotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, liver and kidney toxicity, developmental effects and endocrine effects. The guidance was discussed and approved by the 2004 JMPR with an Executive Summary published in the 2004 JMPR report. The full guidance

document was published as review article in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology. The guidance document will also form the basis for considerations on ARfD setting for compounds other than pesticides, and will be linked to other relevant activities, such as the "Update project" and the derivation of short-term guidance values for the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality.

R. Solecki, L. Davies, V. Dellarco, I. Dewhurst, M. van Raaij and A. Tritscher. Guidance on setting of acute reference dose (ARfD) for pesticides. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 43, 1569-1593 (2005)

Web Feature: Guidance on setting of acute reference doses for pesticides (January 2006)

http://www.who.int/ipcs/food/jmpr/arfd/en/index.html 1.3.3 Harmonization of the principles and methods for the risk assessment of

chemicals in food

1.3.3.1 The Joint FAO/WHO Project to Update the Principles and Methods for the Risk Assessment of Chemicals in Food continued in 2004 - 2005. A workshop was held in Annapolis, MD, USA, 2-6 May 2005, to develop the guidance on exposure/intake assessment. The workshop report is currently being finalized and will be published on the IPCS web site. 1.3.3.2 A second workshop was held 7-10 November 2005, in Bilthoven, the Netherlands, to review the current methods in deriving maximum residue levels for pesticide and veterinary drug residues in food. The workshop report has been finalized and will be published on the IPCS web site.

1.3.4 Nutrient Risk Assessment

1.3.4.1 A scientific workshop jointly convened by the FAO and the WHO was held 2 - 6 May 2005 in Geneva. The workshop participants were charged with the development of an internationally-applicable approach (or 'model') intended to specify the scientific process for nutrient risk assessment. Such a model can be used in the future to identify upper levels of intake for nutrients and related substances.

A Model for Establishing Upper Levels of Intake for Nutrients and

Related Substances. Final Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Technical Workshop on Nutrient Risk Assessment (2-6 May 2005)

Report in print http://www.who.int/ipcs/highlights/full_report.pdf

Web Feature: Joint FAO/WHO Nutrient Risk Assessment Workshop.

Workshop Documents (April 2005) http://www.who.int/ipcs/highlights/nutrientproject_april13/en/index.html

1.4 Development and Harmonization of risk assessment methodologies

1.4.1 Harmonization Project

1.4.1.1 The IPCS “Project on the Harmonization of Approaches to the Assessment of Risk from Exposure to Chemicals” (commonly referred to as the “Harmonization Project”) aims to harmonize global approaches to risk assessment through both increased understanding and agreement on basic principles, and to develop international guidance documents on specific issues. A new Strategic Plan for the Project was agreed in October 2004. Regular information about progress with the project is published on the IPCS web site.

1.4.1.2 A Stocktake of the Harmonization Project was conducted in 2004 which showed that risk assessment authorities and experts are generally well aware of the outcomes of the Project and use them routinely in their work. For example, the IPCS Conceptual Framework for Evaluating a Mode of Action for Chemical Carcinogenesis has been adopted into the EU Technical Guidance Document, and is referenced in the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The Stocktake further confirmed that the publications have been taken up across most of the assessment sectors, i.e. industrial chemicals, biocides, pesticides, veterinary products, pharmaceuticals, occupational and public health. The results of the Stocktake are published on the IPCS web site.

1.4.1.3 The Project has a Global Steering Committee, which includes experts drawn from national risk assessment agencies, and representatives of supra-national bodies, such as the EU (ECB/JRC), EFSA, and the OECD. It is due to meet again by early 2007 to recommend a workplan for 2007-2008 (the current workplan is for the period 2006-2007).

1.4.1.4 A brief status report of current workplan activities follows:

• Cancer: the “IPCS Cancer Mode of action (MOA) Framework” has been

extended to include consideration of human relevance of animal tumours (finalized for publication).

• Extension of the IPCS Cancer MOA Framework to other end-points will take place at an expert meeting scheduled for March 2006.

• Exposure assessment: development of harmonized guidance on characterizing and communicating uncertainty in exposure assessment (in draft), completion of guidance for characterizing and applying human exposure models (published), and new guidance on data quality issues (in draft).

• Reproductive and developmental toxicity: development of harmonized morphological terms (by the WHO Collaborating Centre on Developmental Toxicology in Berlin). This activity progresses with regular Expert Workshops.

• Aggregate/cumulative Risk Assessment. An organizing committee is planning

the international workshop (date to be decided).

• Update of the IPCS Qualitative Scheme for Mutagenicity. Expert meeting to take place in the second half of 2006.

• Chemical-specific adjustment factors - update. A revised document, taking

into account public review comments, has been finalized and published. The current focus of work is on training and implementation.

• Immunotoxicity (skin sensitization). An organizing committee is planning the

international workshop, which will take place in September 2006 in Berlin, Germany.

• PBPK modelling in risk assessment. An IPCS planning group is facilitating coordination between interested risk assessment bodies and is developing an IPCS umbrella project. This project plans to build on outputs from two technical workshops to be held by national risk assessment bodies in Europe (UK) and the US.

Harmonization Project documents are a new family of publications from the IPCS. They join the Environmental Health Criteria(EHC) methodology (yellow cover series of document as authoritative documents on methods for the risk assessment of chemicals. The documents are available free-of-charge on the IPCS web site.

Document No.2. Chemical-Specific Adjustment Factors for Interspecies Differences and Human Variability: Guidance Document for Use of Data on Dose/Concentration-Response Assessment whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2005/9241546786_eng.pdf [pdf 732 kb]

Document No.3. Principles of Characterizing and Applying Human

Exposure Models. whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2005/9241563117_eng.pdf [pdf 538]

Web Feature: What's New with the Harmonization Project. March 2006 http://www.who.int/ipcs/methods/harmonization/newsletter.pdf

1.4.2. Mammalian toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for dioxins and dioxin-like compounds

1.4.2.1 At the end of 2004, a new project on the review of current mammalian toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for dioxins and dioxin-like compounds was initiated. An expert workshop was held in June 2005 to review new data available since the last expert consultation in 1997. The first day of the workshop was dedicated to a public session, giving stakeholders an opportunity to present their opinions and concerns. The following three-day workshop then focussed on the key objectives, such as evaluation of the validity of the TEF concept, methods and approaches for derivation of TEFs, new information regarding specific compounds, application of the TEF concept to additional substances. The outcome of the workshop will be published in a scientific journal, a first draft report has been prepared and is currently under revision by workshop participants.

Web Feature: Project for the re-evaluation of TEFs http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/tef_update/en/index.html

1.4.3 Emerging Issues in Risk Assessment

Cooperative efforts addressing selected global emerging issues have continued in a number of cross-cutting, multidisciplinary areas.

1.4.3.1 Integrated Risk Assessment

In order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of risk assessments globally, IPCS in collaboration with other international and national organizations has developed a generic framework to foster integration of risk assessment approaches used to evaluate human and ecological risks. Four case studies have been developed to demonstrate the advantages of using such a framework. Integrated risk assessment is defined as "a science-based approach that combines the process of risk estimation for humans, biota, and natural resources in one assessmen ". The framework and case studies were discussed at an international workshop in Ispra, Italy, April 2001 and were published in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 9:267-386, 2003.

An integrated risk assessment has been completed for nonylphenol. This integrated assessment, demonstrates the practical applications and benefits of using this approach. A special symposium on IPCS integrated risk assessment activities was held during the IUTOX Congress in Finland, July 2004.

Integrated Risk Assessment. Nonylphenyl Case Study

http://www.who.int/ipcs/methods/Nonylphenol.pdf 1.4.3.2 Nanotechnology IPCS has included nanotechnology and nanomaterials and their chemical and food applications in forward work plans to ensure that potential health implications, both positive and negative are addressed. Taking into consideration the cross-cutting nature of this issue, and the increasing number of national and international organizations considering it, IPCS is committed to working collaboratively to avoid duplication of effort. 1.4.3.3 Weight-of-evidence approaches The weight of evidence (WOE) approach originally used in the IPCS Global Assessment of the State-of-the-Science on Endocrine Disruptors has received further favourable endorsement by the international community. IPCS has been invited to present the WOE framework at numerous international and national scientific conferences. To date, no international criteria or guidance have been established for the application of the causal framework in weight-of-evidence approaches and the communication of such results. In continuing and building on its work on endocrine disrupters and as part of its international harmonization of risk assessment efforts it is planned to initiate a project to elaborate principles and methods for assessing weight-of-evidence approaches in complex toxicological issues.

1.4.4 Endocrine Disrupters 1.4.4.1 In addition to further develop and evaluate the causal criteria and weight-of-evidence approach for endocrine disrupters, IPCS continues to consider future research needs. In particular, IPCS is addressing whether a concept known as the “Value of Information” (VOI) could be used to prioritize the endocrine disruptor research needs identified for endocrine disrupters were identified for Endocrine Disrupters at a Joint IPCS-Japan Workshop on Endocrine Disrupters (7-9 December 2003). A VOI concept paper has been developed and was discussed at a consultation held 29-30 November 2005 at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, US.

1.4.5 Collection and Use of Harmonized Human Data

1.4.5.1 Work in 2004-2005 on improving the use of routinely-collected clinical data in risk assessment has focused on developing a framework to identify the priorities needed for action. The framework focused on: (1) mechanisms for collecting comparable human data; (2) identifying the priority areas where human data will help reduce uncertainties in risk assessment; and (3) areas that will maximize effective risk management actions. 1.4.5.1 Collaboration on these issues is underway with Member States, notably Germany, Canada and the UK, the EC Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection, (DG SANCO), the Joint Research Centre Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (JRC IHCP), OECD and the European Centre for the Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC). 1.4.5.2 A workshop on poisons centres and their role in collecting data for the risk assessment of consumer products was held in Berlin in May 2005. This workshop was held in association with the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT) just prior to the XXV Congress in Berlin. 1.4.5.3 Project proposals to improve the collection and use of harmonized human data are being developed focusing on:

• Consumer product safety: focusing on the role of poison centre data in providing insights into the circumstances in which consumers are exposed to chemicals and the opportunities for improving the linkage between injury prevention and risk assessment and management.

• Biomonitoring: focusing on the need to strengthen information exchange at

the international level in order to increase the comparability and use of existing data collections, the development of new biomarkers of exposure, use of biomonitoring data in risk assessment and risk communication .

• Occupational and environmental exposures focusing on improving the

reporting as use of epidemiological and health surveillance data. IPCS Workshop Report on Poisons Centres and the Use of Human Data

in Consumer Product Risk Assessment http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/methods/workshop_report.pdf

2. CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT TO COUNTRIES 2.1 Chemical incident surveillance, alert and response

2.1.1 The revised International Health Regulations were adopted on 23 May 2005 by the World Health Assembly. The broadened purpose and scope of the IHR (2005) are to "prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease … which avoids unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade". The renewed mandate given to Member States and WHO under the IHR (2005) has also increased their respective roles and responsibilities. In particular, States Parties to the IHR (2005) are required to develop, strengthen and maintain core surveillance and response capacities to detect, assess, notify and report public health events to WHO and respond to public health risks and emergencies. WHO, in turn, is to collaborate with State Parties to evaluate their public health capacities, facilitate technical cooperation, logistical support and the mobilization of financial resources for building capacity in surveillance and response.

2.1.2 The IPCS Global Chemical Incident Alert and Response System has continued to operate since the pilot started in August 2002. In the period 2004-2005, a total of 78 incidents of international public health importance were identified, as defined by the revised IHR.

Web Feature : WHO/IPCS Global Chemical Incident Alert and Response.

Summary of 2004 Incidents http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/gciars/en/index.html

2.1.3 Building on the work carried out for the Global Chemical Incident Alert and Response System, IPCS is a partner in an EC funded project to develop and test a pilot alert system for (potential) public health events resulting from (potential) deliberate releases of chemicals. IPCS is also a partner in a second project to enhance the capability of poisons centres to respond rapidly and in a coordinated fashion to health threats. This project focuses on the development of an alert system for deliberate chemical releases. The feasibility of building a common European database of poisons centre enquiries is also being explored.

2.1.4 In November 2004, IPCS undertook a mission to the United Republic of Tanzania, at the request of the Ministry of Health, to investigate an outbreak of neurological disease in a village. This was a joint mission with the WHO Regional Office for Africa and UNEP-OCHA.

2.1.5 WHO field investigations with the support of IPCS have been undertaken in Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya, and Democratic Republic of Congo.

2.1.6 Other kinds of technical assistance have been provided to WHO regional and country offices, and Member States including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russian Federation, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Kenya, DPR Korea, IR Iran, Somalia, Maldives and "Tsunamiland".

2.1.7 In terms of national preparedness, field missions to provide technical assistance and to revise national preparedness plans have been undertaken in Thailand, Jordan, Canada and the Philippines in collaboration with the WHO Department for

Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR) and the WHO Department for Health Action in Crises (HAC) (e.g. Jordan).

2.1.8 Within WHO, IPCS has provided the secretariat to the Inter-Cluster Working Group dealing with preparedness and response to natural occurrence, accidental release or deliberate use of biological and chemical agents or radionuclear materials that affect health. IPCS also a member of the OECD Working Group on Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response, and the IOMC Working Group on Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response and the Global Health Security Action Group (GHSAG) for chemical events. In addition, IPCS coordinates its work and collaborates with OPCW (related to chemical weapons) and UNEP/OCHA (related to the international response to chemical and environmental events of international public health concern).

2.2 Poisons prevention, information and management

2.2.1 IPCS, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Africa, organized two sub-regional poisons centre workshops, one francophone (July 2004, Dakar Senegal) and one anglophone (November 2005, Accra Ghana). Since existing poisons centres are mainly in the anglophone African countries, each workshops each had a different emphasis. For the francophone countries, IPCS provided an additional day of training on action-plan development and resource mobilization by funding a UNITAR representative to run two half-day workshops. 2.2.2 Part One of the Poisons Centre Training Manual was completed and was distributed to participants at the Accra workshop. This manual will be published on the IPCS web site and the INTOX Databank. 2.2.3 IPCS provides membership of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT) or the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) to individuals working at poisons centres in developing countries. In 2005, memberships were provided to 22 individuals. Membership benefits include a free subscription to the Journal of Toxicology-Clinical Toxicology, a monthly current awareness bulletin and reduced registration fees to scientific congresses. IPCS has also undertaken to collaborate with EAPCCT in future activities to support poisons centres in Central and Eastern Europe. 2.2.4 Free access to the INTOX Databank via CD-ROM and the Internet is continuing. This databank contains information on chemicals, antidotes, and management of poisoning and chemical accidents. The web site is currently averaging over 47,000 unique visitors per month resulting in over 77,100 sessions monthly. Sixty-five CD-ROM subscriptions were also provided in 2004-2005.

2.2.5 Poisons Information Monographs on organic and inorganic lead are in the process of being updated as a step towards the development of WHO guidelines on the management of lead poisoning in children. The antidote monographs on diazepam and deferoxamine have been updated and added to the INTOX Databank. The antidote monographs on unithiol (DMPS) and succimer (DMSA) are in the process of being updated and reviewed. 2.2.6 IPCS participated in a working group organized by the WHO Regional Office for Africa to revise regional guidelines for the management of snakebite. IPCS had

identified peer-reviewers for the earlier version of the guidelines and also supported the participation of a technical expert in the working group. Snakebite is an occupational hazard in many parts of Africa, causing significant mortality and morbidity. Children are also victims. The objective of the regional guidelines is to improve the management of snakebite. However, there is also a crisis in antivenom supply in the region, with most countries having little or no stocks of appropriate antivenom. IPCS is collaborating with the WHO unit on Quality and Safety of Plasma Derivatives and Related Substances in order to find ways of overcoming the shortage of antivenom supplies.

IPCS Guidelines for the Prevention of Toxic Exposures

http://www.who.int/ipcs/poisons/prevention_guidelines/en/index.html

New Antidote Monographs on Diazepam and Deferoxamine http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/antidote/antidote/diazepam.htm

http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/antidote/antidote/deferoxamine.htm

2.3 Network of poisons centres and INTOX

2.3.1 Twenty subscriptions to the INTOX Data Management System were provided to poisons centres in developing and in-transition countries. 2.3.2 Training in use of the INTOX Data Management System has been provided in poisons centres in Jamaica (November 2004) and Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (February 2005), South Africa (December 2005) and to international groups of poisons centre representatives in London UK (July 2005) and Accra, Ghana in November 2005. 2.3.3 Annual surveys of users of the INTOX Data Management System are carried out to obtain feedback about ease of use of the system and to find out about local adaptations made to the system. An INTOX users' meeting was held in July 2005 to decide future software development to allow pooling of data from a number of centres. The upgraded software with a number of additional reporting features is in the process of being distributed.

2.4 Training Manual on the Safe Use of Pesticides

2.4.1 IPCS has prepared a toolkit to facilitate training programmes on the safe use of pesticides and the diagnosis and management of pesticide poisoning. The toolkit comprises a training manual on a "Multi-level course on the safe use of pesticides and the diagnosis and treatment of pesticide poisoning" both in electronic format and in hard copy, as well as basic flip charts to allow flexibility in the conduct of training according to existing infrastructures in countries. Teaching material on the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions is included.

2.4.2 The toolkit is intended to:

• prevent adverse effects of pesticides by training in safe practices;

• provide insight into the safety aspects of the use of pesticides for those engaged in registration procedures, and for public interest groups; and to

• train doctors and those giving first aid in special aspects of the diagnosis and

treatment of cases.

2.4.3 The multi-level design of the course allows training of different target groups, including workers, communities, public health professionals and health-care workers. The current format supports electronic distance learning and further developments using this approach are planned. This work is being completed in the WHO Pesticides Evaluation Scheme Unit.

2.5. Use of assessment reports for decision-making 2.5.1 Collaboration with bodies using chemical assessments as a basis for decision-making also continues both within and outside WHO. A study of the use of IPCS risk assessments in support of WHO normative functions was completed in July 2004. This report examined the use of assessments to establish the third edition of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality (GDWQ) which are used as the basis for many national governmental standards, including those of the European Union.

2.5.2 Updating and consideration of new issues in relation to previously published

assessments included an assessment of the alternatives to chrysotile asbestos. This was requested by the tenth session of the International Negotiation Committee for the Rotterdam Convention (ICRC) on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. Accordingly the Workshop on Mechanisms of Fibre Carcinogenesis and Assessment of Chrysotile Asbestos Substitutes, was convened jointly by WHO/PCS and IARC 8-12 November 2005, in Lyon, France. The workshop developed criteria for the hazard assessment of the 15 chrysotile substitutes focussing on lung cancer and mesothelioma. The summary consensus report has been published on the IPCS web site and forwarded to the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat to be considered at a future Conference of the Parties for that Convention.

Summary Report of the Joint WHO/PCS and IARC Workshop on

Mechanisms of Fibre Carcinogenesis and Assessment of Chrysotile Asbestos Substitutes http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/new_issues/summary_report.pdf

2.6. International Chemical Safety Cards

2.6.1 The IPCS work on the International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs) continues to be one of the major points of collaboration with ILO, with part of the translation activities relating to developing countries being supported financially by ILO.

2.6.2 In 2004, a total of 163 ICSCs were produced or updated. A 'fast-track' procedure for the partial updating of the cards was developed. For example, 138 cards were updated in sections such as Occupational exposure limits and EU

classification. In 2005, 155 ICSCs have been peer-reviewed and 571 fast-track corrected cards were added to the ILO web site and to INCHEM and INTOX Databanks. 2.6.3 The ICSC Compiler’s Guide which sets out the list of standard phrases on identity, hazardous effects and precautionary statements is continually updated by the Participating Institutes preparing the cards. A formal update was published in October 2005.

2.6.4 ICSCs are currently available in 17 languages. Translation into other languages is being continued with work in Portuguese (in collaboration with the Poisons Control Centre in São Paulo, Brazil), in Arabic (in collaboration with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Cairo), in Hungarian and in Dutch. The project to translate the ICSCs is also being undertaken in collaboration with the University of Teheran (Iran). 2.6.5 In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, the ICSCs in the Thai language are being updated. In collaboration with the Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institute für Arbeitzschutz (BGIA), the ICSCs in German are being updated. The software programme for automatic translation is being adapted to take account of technical progress. Translation of the standard phrases to Turkish is in the starting phase in Ankara, Turkey.

ICSC Compilers Guide (October 2005)

http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/icsc/comp_guide.pdf 2.7 Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for the Classification

and Labelling of Chemicals 2.7.1 IPCS has initiated work to raise the awareness of the health sector about GHS

and is specifically involving members of its global network of poisons centres to provide expert advice for the development of harmonized precautionary statements and to address the need for harmonized first-aid advice for chemical poisoning. This will contribute to work being undertaken by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to finalize the GHS. An international workshop took place in Freiburg, Germany (June 2004) involving clinicians and experts in the management of chemical poisoning to discuss first-aid aspects of the GHS. Training material is currently in preparation.

2.7.2 The UNSCEGHS (the UN body under the United Nations Economic and Social Council charged with overseeing the GHS) agreed at its eighth session in July 2004 to explore a possible working relationship with WHO/IPCS to assist implementation of the GHS in relevant activities/instruments among global health partners. Following the completion of a review of relevant IPCS instruments and consultation, including with professional bodies in the health sector, a proposal will be considered further.

Report of the IPCS Workshop for Poisons Centres - the Globally

Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), First-Aid and Poisons Centre Training Materials

http://www.who.int/ipcs/capacity_building/en/summary_report.pdf

2.8 WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard 2.8.1 The WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard was updated

in December 2004. This document sets out a classification system to distinguish between the more or less hazardous forms of selected pesticides based on acute risk to human health. The document replaces the 2000-2002 edition and provides web links to reference documents.

WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard

http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/pesticides_hazard/en/index.html 3. VULNERABLE POPULATION GROUPS 3.1 Children

3.1.1 IPCS has continued developing activities in the area of children’s health and the environment, and more specifically on children’s chemical safety.

Activities over 2004/2005 included : • The Training Package for the Health Sector on Children's Health and the

Environment - prepared with the support of USEPA. This is a set of over 40 PowerPoint modules on different environmental risk factors, disease groups, childhood characteristics and environmental case studies. It contains over ten modules that deal specifically with the effects of certain chemicals on children's health and development. A number of the modules (18) have been developed and pilot tested in a number of "train the trainers" workshops around the world: Mexico and Cyprus (2004), Italy, Kenya and Argentina (2005). Some of these events were organized with international and local paediatric associations and other scientific bodies. Both WHO staff and local/regional experts provided the faculty for the workshops. The CDs containing selected modules were handed to qualified participants able to adapt the contents to their specific needs and disseminate the new knowledge acquired in their own settings. More modules are being developed.

• Preparation of guidance materials on how to establish Paediatric Environmental

Health (PEH) centres, their potential goals and objectives, the advantages of networking, and the benefits these centres may render to society and to their children.

• Global Guide to Resources on Protecting the Worlds Children from harmful chemical exposures produced by the IFCS had a major input from the IPCS. It is now available in English, Spanish and French.

3.1.2 Long-term studies (LTS) on children's health and the environment. IPCS is co-chairing an international interest group of the US National Children’s Study in this regard and promoting the implementation of LTS in a number of countries. LTS cohort studies of environmental influences on children’s health and development have a potential for identifying and assessing the harmful and helpful effects of a broad range of environmental factors on child health and development. However, successful implementation and conduct of these complex and costly studies in

developing countries and require innovative approaches, including close international cooperation. As a result of recommendations made at the 3rd Informal Consultation on Long-Term Studies on Environmental Threats to the Health of Children in Developing Countries (held in Mexico, 16-20 November 2004), the 4th Consultation on LTS, organized by IPCS, was held in Bangkok, Thailand, 18-20 August 2005, draft study protocols are being developed on six study hypotheses. 3.1.3 Information tools and communication mechanisms for protecting children from established and uncertain chemical threats were discussed at a Workshop held in Geneva, 17-19 October 2005. As a result, guidance materials are under preparation.

3.2 Promotion of collaborative research

3.2.1 Promotion of collaborative research among scientists in developing and developed countries is an underlying goal of many efforts related to emerging issues, and several collaborative research activities related to children’s health and the environment and gene-environment interactions have been implemented successfully. A special session was convened during the Fifth Princess Chulabhorn International Science congress on Evolving Genetics and Its Global Impact (August 2004, Bangkok, Thailand), to further strengthen and expand this collaborative approach.

3.2.2 Currently, the following pilot collaborative research projects are ongoing among scientists in developing and developed countries:

• exposure to arsenic in children (Thailand, Mexico, US); • birth cohort study on asthma in children (Australia, India, Nepal); • biomarkers of benzene exposure in children (Thailand, Malaysia, US); • long-term children’s studies in developing countries (13 countries in planning

stages).

3.2.3 The status of the pilot collaborative study on “childhood asthma” was reviewed at a workshop in Perth, Australia, February 2005. Final protocols, questionnaires and other materials were reviewed and preliminary biomonitoring data evaluated.

3.2.4 Future plans are to initiate similar activities in Central and Latin American Countries particularly in areas related to the biomonitoring of POPs and the effects of persistent toxic substances in children. Potential collaborative activities have been identified at the “Conference on Healthy Environments, Healthy Children: Increasing Knowledge and Taking Action” (14-16 November 2005) and at the “Workshop on Advances in the Use of Biomarkers in Children” (17-18 November 2005). Both these events were co-sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Argentinean Paediatric Association and took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Web Feature. International Workshop on Advances in the Use of Biomarkers

in Children (March 2006) http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/biomarkers/en/index.html 3.3 Use of Toxicogenomics for risk assessment

3.3.1 IPCS is working jointly with the OECD on the use of toxicogenomics for risk assessment. This collaboration is intended to make use of the strengths of both

programmes. A joint IPCS/OECD Advisory Group is overseeing the work on three projects namely: • Molecular screening for characterizing individual chemicals and chemical

categories. • New biomarkers. • Survey on available omics tools.

3.3.2 These projects were agreed to be the priorities after considering the recommendations from Workshops held in 2003 (human health) and 2004 (environmental aspects). IPCS will provide the scientific and administrative secretariat for the project on new biomarkers, Germany will lead the project in close collaboration with the IPCS Inter-Regional Research Unit at Research Triangle Park.

3.4 Chemical exposures in small-scale workplaces

3.4.1 An IPCS International Technical Group is overseeing the further development and implementation of an Occupational Risk Management Toolbox, including the International Chemical Control Toolkit. This Toolkit is the internationalized version of the UK COSHH Essentials (i.e. "control banding"). It has been updated so that it uses the hazard statements of the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling (GHS) as well as the EU Risk Phrases, and has been issues in a pilot CD format. A third International Control Banding Workshop was held in September 2005, where the CD was launched. IPCS partners in this activity are ILO and WHO, along with UNITAR, country partners (UK HSE, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of Germany (BAuA), and NIOSH), the occupational hygiene community (including IOHA), and a number of WHO Collaborating Centres. Next steps include further implementation work and facilitating uptake of related tools, such as those for specified hazards and hazardous work processes (such as those that result in silica exposure).

4. POLICY COORDINATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION 4.1 Policy Coordination

4.1.1 Over the last 12 months, IPCS has provided technical policy advice to the Conference of the Parties for the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. IPCS represented WHO at meetings of the Inter-Organization Coordinating Committee of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC).

Web Feature: First Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (September 2004)

http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/leitner/en/index.html

Web Feature: First Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (May 2005)

http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/COP1/en/index.html 4.1.2 IPCS has coordinated health-sector technical and policy input to the discussions at the World Health Assembly on the Strategic Approach to International

Chemicals Management (SAICM): Participation of Global Health Partners (WHA 56.22) and coordinated the input of health ministries and global health partners to SAICM. SAICM was finalized in Dubai in February 2006 and provides a road-map for global efforts on the sound management of chemicals to 2020. A number of health-sector priorities for SAICM are relevant to the work of IPCS including:

• Actions to improve the ability to access, interpret and apply scientific knowledge. • Filling of gaps in scientific knowledge. • Development of globally-harmonized methods for chemical risk assessment. • Development of better methods to determine impacts of chemicals on health, to

set priorities for action. • Building capacities of countries to deal with poisonings and chemical incidents. • Strategies directed specifically at the health of children and workers. • Work to promote alternatives to highly-toxic and persistent chemicals. • Strategies aimed at prevention of ill-health and disease caused by chemicals.

Web Feature: Health Sector Priorities for SAICM agreed at ICCM

(February 2006) http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/iccm_statement.pdf

4.1.3 IPCS continued to work collaboratively with the OECD and participated in meetings relating to the OECD HPV Chemicals Programme, Harmonization of Classification and Labelling, Chemical Accident Group, Global Portal Steering Group and the working group on pesticides. IPCS participated in meetings of the OECD Joint Meeting of the Chemicals Committee and Working Party on Chemicals, Pesticides and Biotechnology.

4.1.4 In May 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Republic of Korea and WHO for collaboration with IPCS on international chemicals issues. The Korea Food and Drug Association (KFDA) will be the IPCS National Focal Point. Together with the KFDA, the National Institute of Toxicological Research and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency have been established as Korean institutions participating in chemicals safety activities.

Web Feature: WHO and Korea agree on international chemicals collaboration (May 2005)

http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/korea/en/index.html 4.2 Information Dissemination

4.2.1 Following the completion of the new IPCS web site in July 2004, the site continues to grow as the single most important source of information on IPCS products and activities. Feature stories regularly showcase new or significant events and reports of Workshops and meetings are regularly added. In 2005, over 100 new publications and reports were added to the site, with eight feature articles. 4.2.2 Chemicals safety information is widely and freely disseminated as shown by web-based statistics, both on the IPCS web site and on associated sites such as IPCS INCHEM. Annual hits to the IPCS INCHEM site have risen from approximately 1,000,000 in 2001 to over 6,500,000 by the end of 2004. From January 2005, a new method of counting usage of the INCHEM site was adopted and over the year there

were over 4 million sessions (i.e. documents opened) and up to 441,579 unique visitors per month to the web site. In order to widen dissemination further, IPCS is participating in discussions initiated by OECD to develop a globally-accessible hazard data repository. IPCS INCHEM is being reviewed in this light to ensure data contained in IPCS assessment reports can be accessed through such a global portal. In addition a user-survey has been conducted to provide additional information on the location of users and their needs for chemical safety information.

5. CONCLUSION

Substantive progress has been made in each of the four work areas listed in this report working with national experts and institutions of excellence at country level. The work has been undertaken in a cost-effective manner reflecting the current relative paucity of financial resources.

Annex 1

List of IPCS Events 2004 4-12 February 2004 62nd Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting Expert Committee on the Food Additives (JECFA) Rome, Italy Summary Report [pdf 164kb] 9-10 February 2004 Informal meeting of IPCS Steering Group on Toxicogenomics Geneva, Switzerland 18-19 February 2004 Sixth Meeting of the IPCS Risk Assessment Steering Group Beijing, China Meeting Report [pdf 127kb] 13-23 February 2004 IPCS Working Group on Multilevel Course on Safe Use of Pesticides Penang, Malaysia 20 February 2004 IPCS Workshop on Priorities in Chemicals Risk Assessment and Management in the Peoples Republic of China Beijing, China 25-27 February 2004 IPCS Workshop on the Collection, Reporting and Use of Human Data Cardiff, UK Summary Report [pdf 120kb] 25 February-5 March 2004 IPCS/NIEHS Workshop on the Promotion of Collaborative Research between Scientists in Developed and Developing Countries Research Triangle Park, USA Summary Report [pdf 213kb] 3-5 March 2004 IPCS Harmonization Project - Cancer Working Group Meeting Washington, USA

8-10 March 2004 IPCS Working Group on Training Package for Health Care Providers Arezzo, Italy 15-16 April 2004 IPCS International Chemical Safety Cards Translators Meeting Budapest, Hungary 19-23 April 2004 IPCS International Chemical Safety Cards: Peer-Review Meeting Budapest, Hungary 9-10 May 2004 IPCS Meeting of Chapter Coordinators for the Development of an Environmental Health Criteria (EHC) Document on the "Principles for Evaluating Health Risks in Children associated with Exposure to Chemicals" Washington, USA 9-10 May 2004 IPCS Training Workshop Children's Exposure to Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Environment "Beyond Acute Toxic Exposures" Montevideo, Uruguay 9-12 May 2004 IPCS Working Group on the Environmental Health Components in the Integrated Management of Childhood Diseases Montevideo, Uruguay 8-17 June 2004 63rd Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) Geneva, Switzerland. 11 June 2004 IPCS Informal Consultation on the Development of an Action Plan for the Collection, Reporting and Use of Human Data, London, UK . 13-16 June 2004 Joint WHO/IPCS Planning Meeting on Control Banding: The Practical Application in Developing Countries, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 18-19 June 2004 IPCS Meeting of Authors for an Environmental Health Criteria Document on the Principles and Methods for Assessing Autoimmunity Associated with Exposure to Chemicals, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. 22-23 June 2004 IPCS Harmonization Project: Meeting of the Project Exposure Modelling Sub-group Washington, USA .

23-25 June 2004 IPCS Workshop for Poisons Centres - the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), First-Aid and Poison Centre Training Materials, Freiburg, Germany. 12 July 2004 Symposium on Integrated Risk Assessment, 10th Congress of the International Union of Toxicology, Tampere, Finland 13 July 2004 Symposium on the Opportunities and Uncertainties for Improving the Use of Human Data in Chemical Assessment, 10th Congress of the International Union of Toxicology, Tampere, Finland 27-29 July 2004 Joint IPCS/WHO AFRO Francophone Workshop on the Establishment of Poisons Centres, Dakar, Senegal 19-20 August 2004 IPCS Uncertainty in Exposure Assessment and Scoping Discussion on Exposure Data Quality, WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland 24-26 August 2004 Joint FAO/WHO Technical Workshop on Residues of Veterinary Drugs without ADI/MRL, Bangkok, Thailand . 9-10 September 2004 Speciation of Elements in Environmental Health Risk Assessments, Hanover, Germany 12 September 2004 IPCS Symposium in association with the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology. The Surveillance of Chemical Risks - Needs, Developments and Possible Applications, Seattle, USA . 13-17 September 2004 IPCS Expert Consultation on the Harmonization of the Application of Dose-Response Modelling in Chemical Risk Assessment, Geneva, Switzerland .

20-29 September 2004 Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), Rome, Italy. 27 September 2004 Workshop on Chemical Safety and Risk Management , Hanoi, Vietnam. 28 September-1 October 2004 12th Final Review Board Meeting of the Concise International Chemical Assessment series, Hanoi, Vietnam.

5-6 October 2004 GSCT Project Partners meeting Geneva, Switzerland.

18-22 October 2004 Task Group Meeting for the Environmental Health Criteria on Bentonite, Kaoline and some selected Phyllosilicates, Bradford, UK. 25-26 October 2004 7th Meeting of the IPCS Harmonization Project Steering Committee, Cincinatti, USA.

25-29 October 2004 IPCS International Chemical Safety Cards. Peer-review meeting St Augustin, Germany.

9-10 December 2004 IPCS Meeting to Update the IPCS Chemical Specific Adjustment Factors Document, Geneva, Switzerland.

13-17 December 2004 IPCS Task Force Meeting for the EHC on Use of Transgenic Animal Mutagenicity Assays and their Use in Toxicity Testing, Hannover, Germany

Annex 2

List of IPCS Events 2005 17 February 2005 64th Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (JECFA), Rome, Italy. 7-8 March 2005 GSCT Project Partners meeting Geneva, Switzerland. 15-17 March 2005 Meeting of the Chemical Working Group of GHSAG Geneva, Switzerland.

18-22 April 2005 Peer-review meeting of International Chemical Safety Cards. Lyon, France.

21-23 April 2005 IPCS International Workshop to Develop a Framework for Assessing the Human Relevance of Animal Tumours. Bradford University, Bradford, United Kingdom.

25-26 April 2005 IPCS Meeting on Uncertainty in Exposure Assessment, Geneva, Switzerland.

25-27 April 2005 Consultative group meeting on the human health evaluation of tetrachloroethene Monks Wood, United Kingdom.

2-6 May 2005 Joint FAO/WHO Workshop on Exposure Assessment for Chemicals in Food Annapolis, Maryland, USA.

2-6 May 2005 Joint FAO/WHO Nutrient Risk Assessment Workshop: A model for establishing upper levels of intake for nutrients and related substances, Geneva, Switzerland.

4 May 2005 Children and POPs: Protecting our most precious resource. Side Event at the first Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, Punta del Este, Uruguay.

9-10 May 2005 IPCS Workshop on Poisons Centres and the Use of Human Data in Consumer Product Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.

7-16 June 2005 65th Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, Geneva, Switzerland.

27-30 June 2005 Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs) - Review Project: Public Session (27th only) and workshop, Geneva, Switzerland. 27 June 2005 Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs) - Review Project: Public Session , Geneva, Switzerland. 28 June-1 July 2005 IPCS Meeting to Finalize the EHC Document on Dermal Absorption, Hanover, Germany

18-21 July 2005 Third Meeting of Users of the INTOX Data Management System, London, UK.

26-28 July 2005 IPCS Workshop on Aflatoxins, in collaboration with the US Centres for Disease Control, Geneva, Switzerland.

20-29 September 2005 Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), Geneva, Switzerland

17-21 October 2005 Peer-review meeting of International Chemical Safety Cards. Geneva, Switzerland

31 October - 3 November 2005 13 Final Review Board Meeting of the Concise International Chemical Assessment Series Nagpur, India Meeting Report [pdf 116]

th

31 October - 4 November 2005 IPCS EHC Meeting (Autoimmunity) Bilthoven, Netherlands

7-10 November 2005 Joint FAO/WHO workshop to review and harmonize current methods for deriving maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticide and veterinary drug residues in food.

9-12 November 2005 WHO Workshop on Mechanism of Fibre Carcinogenesis and Assessment of Chrysotile Asbestos Substitutes Lyon, France Summary Report [pdf 292kb]

14-19 November 2005 IPCS Task Group Meeting to finalise the Envrionmental Health Criteria Document on Elemental Speciation in Risk Assessment Hanover, Germany

29 November - 1 December 2005 AFRO/IPCS Workshop on establishment of poisons centres in Africa and training in the use of the INTOX Data Management System Accra, Ghana

2-3 December 2005 Meeting the finalize the IPCS Cancer Framework Imperial College, London, United Kingdom 29 November - 1 December 2005 AFRO/IPCS Workshop on establishment of poisons centres in Africa, and training in the use of the INTOX Data Management System, Accra, Ghana 3 December 2005 Training day on use of the INTOX Data Management System, Tygerberg, South Africa

Annex 3

LIST OF IPCS DONORS

1. Australia, Department of Health & Ageing

2. Canada, Health Canada

3. European Commission, Social Affairs and Employment

4. European Commission, Health and Consumer Protection

5. FAO - United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization

6. Germany, Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation & Nuclear Safety

7. Japan, Ministry of Health, Labour & Welfare

8. Sweden, Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate

9. Switzerland, Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests & Landscape

10. United Kingdom, Department of Health

11. United Kingdom, Food Standards Agency

12. USA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

13. USA, Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

14. USA, Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN)

15. USA, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)