Initiatives for Evaluating Industrial Chemicals

OECD defines HPV chemicals as those manufactured or imported in quantities greater than or equal to 2.2 million pounds per year in at least one member country or an EU region. In an effort to undertake the investigation of HPV chemicals in a cooperative manner, the OECD modified its work on HPV chemicals through an OECD Council Decision in 1991 (OECD 1991). The OECD s cooperative approach includes involvement from member countries in four basic components (1) selection of chemicals to be evaluated, (2) collection of data from governments, public 

The current OECD HPV chemicals list includes 4853 substances (OECD 2004). The status of each chemical in the process may be monitored via the OECD s publicly available HPV database http //cs3-hq.oecd.org/scripts/hpv . The OECD s program enables a member country to sponsor the HPV chemicals produced by industries within its borders and, in turn, to benefit through data sharing from the sponsorship of other countries. This process eliminates duplicative testing. 

The OECD has developed extensive guidance, which aids sponsors by 

Step 1 Chemical Selection. After receiving comments from various stakeholders, the U.S. EPA selected chemicals judged by the U.S. EPA to present the relatively greatest potential for exposures that may impact children. 

Step 2 Tier 1 Commitment. A manufacturer or importer of a VCCEP chemical submits a letter to the U.S. EPA indicating their commitment to sponsoring a chemical. 

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