Change and challenges ahead

Ecotoxicity testing has become internationalised in recent times and, with it, the recognition of its major contribution to risk-based procedures for the assessment and management of chemicals. National and international legislation has influenced the rapid advances we have seen and, with many unresolved challenges, it seems likely that this pace of progress will be maintained. 

In Europe the volume of international legislation increased during the last half of the twentieth century Table 1.4 shows the adopted pieces of environmental regulation that emerged during this period. Current European Union (EU) policy 

Of the 106 000 existing substances (pre-1981) that account for over 95% of the total volume of substances on the market, only 140 had been identified for risk assessment on the four existing priority lists by 2002. During the period awaiting further assessment there is no marketing restriction on the sales of these substances and there is no deadline under the regulation for the risk assessment or for possible trade sanctions where the producer fails to provide the necessary information. 

There will be many debates on the implications of the new proposals and on the increased burden to industry. The current overall timetable for chemicals 

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