The Regional Development Policy Division was honoured to have been selected by the Regional Studies Association (RSA) to receive the Institutional Ambassador Award 2015 on 18 November. The award is in recognition of the high calibre of reports and measurement tools produced by the Regional Development Policy Committee and its supporting Working Parties.

The IOMC Toolbox is an internet-based tool that enables countries to identify the most relevant and efficient tools to address specific national problems in chemicals management. Developed by the IOMC, this proof-of-concept focuses on a national management scheme for pesticides, an occupational health and safety system as well as a chemical accidents prevention, preparedness and response system for major hazards.

This document provides detailed guidance for both new chemical notifiers and jurisdictions who wish to participate in a “parallel process” which enables a company to declare to all affected countries at the time of first notification that it wants them to cooperate and share information. The hazard assessment is developed by the ‘lead’ jurisdiction and then utilized by other participating jurisdictions.

Governments and the chemical industry spend millions of dollars every year testing the safety of chemicals that people use in their everyday lives. Computer modelling, through the OECD-designed QSAR Toolbox software, now replaces many of the tests traditionally done in the laboratory. This allows regulators and industry to save money and use fewer animals to predict the hazardous properties of chemicals.

This document presents the outcomes of the 3rd OECD Biopesticide Seminar, held in 2011, that focused on the topic of “botanicals” (also known as plant extracts). The Seminar reviewed a number of scientific and regulatory issues related to the “characterisation and analyses of botanicals for the use in plant protection products”.

30/01/2013 –The first update to the third generation of the QSAR Toolbox (version 3.1) has now been released containing improved search functionalities, interface improvement, a new database for observed rat in vivo metabolism; updated auto oxidation and metabolism simulators; updated DNA binding profiler and additional ways of expressing mixtures composition.

This is the report of the workshop on Natural-hazard triggered technological accidents (Natech) that took place 23-25 May 2012. It investigated the specific elements of the prevention of, preparedness for, and response to chemical accidents caused by natural hazard or natural disaster.

This biocide document provides guidance on the conduct of laboratory and field tests aimed to assess the efficacy of anti-ants baits for indoor use. A bait contains one or more insecticidal active ingredients combined with food for garden ants.

The OECD is to review its chemical hazard assessment programme with the aim of providing a more specialised service for member countries from 2015.

The first version of the Globally Harmonised Submission and Transport Standard was published May 2014. The GHSTS is a standardised set of technical specifications used to assemble electronic files for any pesticide package in a predefined manner. Once the files are assembled according to the specifications, they can be transferred from a business entity to a regulatory authority and can be extracted for use in a regulatory process.

An addendum to the OECD Guiding Principles on Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response to address Natural Hazards Triggering Technological Accidents (Natech) Risk Management has just been published. The addendum consists of a number of amendments to the Guiding Principles and the addition of a new Chapter to provide more detailed guidance on Natech prevention, preparedness and response.

The OECD has just published two new Test Guidelines on human health hazard endpoint skin sensitisation. Skin sensitisation refers to an allergic response following skin contact with the tested chemical, as defined by the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UN GHS).

Today the OECD marks the end of a seven year experimental testing programme, investigating 11 commercially viable nanomaterials across 110 chemical tests. The results were co-ordinated across 11 countries with tests and data generated from government agencies, universities, research institutions and businesses. Over 780 studies on the specific properties of nanomaterials were undertaken.

The OECD releases a Guidance on Change of Ownership in Hazardous Facilities. This Guidance is a concise document providing a framework to assist stakeholders to identify, understand and minimise the risks during and after a change of ownership at a hazardous facility, and help make the change of ownership a better informed process.

This guidance document was originally published in 2012 and updated in 2018 to reflect new and updated OECD test guidelines, as well as reflect on scientific advances in the use of test methods and assessment of the endocrine activity of chemicals. The document is intended to provide guidance for evaluating chemical using standardised test guidelines.

The first report is a synthesis from a Workshop on Approaches to Support Substitution and Alternatives Assessment, which discussed approaches used to support alternative assessments and substitution. The second report is a Cross Country Analysis of Approaches to Support Alternatives Assessment and Substitution of Chemicals of Concern that describes a list of approaches developed across countries and by different stakeholders.

GHSTS is a standardised set of technical specifications for assembling electronic files for pesticide registration in a predefined manner. Once assembled according to the GHSTS, the dossier files can be transferred from a business to a regulatory authority and can be used in a regulatory process. Version 2.0 includes improved lifecycle management of documents over a series of submissions for one pesticide (or other) regulatory action.

On Thursday 26 September 2019, the OECD discussed "Finding Alternatives to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances of Concern: A Difficult and Continuing Challenge" with the participation of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Presenters shared efforts, successes and challenges in eliminating per and polyfluorinated chemicals of environmental concern from the life cycle of consumer products.

Kew may be 70 times bigger than the Physic Garden, but historically Chelsea is the mother ship

After 11 years, Harry Eyres’ column has come to an end. Here’s his first, from January 17, 2004

People do not want sweeping immigration reform. They want less immigration

Europe’s biggest activist investor shakes up management teams to unlock hidden value

In a male-dominated industry, the executive says she has not been held back

The Swiss bunker mentality has always felt at once quaint, menacing and oddly reassuring

Effective ways to reinvest in existing buy-to-let property portfolio

A new series offers a fascinating glimpse into lives lost to history

Scientists reveal why North Magnetic Pole has shifted from Canada towards Siberia  ThePrint

1. OnePlus slipped to third position in India's premium smartphone segment in Q1 2020, iPhone 11 was the top selling device  gizmochina
2. Samsung releases One UI 2.0 update for Galaxy A20s  NewsBytes
3. Features we want and don’t want from the Galaxy Note 20  SamMobile
4. Leaked Samsung Galaxy A21s render shows a familiar design - GSMArena.com news  GSMArena.com
5. Samsung is Now the Top Brand for Premium Smartphones in India  Gizchina.com
6. View Full coverage on Google News

Tekashi 6ix9ine's mastery of social media was called into question on Saturday, when the controversial rapper called on Instagram users to 'describe me in one word.'

Consultant anaesthetist Dr Paul Trafford, pictured with his wife and nieces, almost suffered a major heart attack after returning to his home in Glasgow following a shift in his hospital due to an undiagnosed issue.

Anne Pitcher, the Selfridges managing director, replies bluntly when asked how it felt to turn the lights out and pull up the shutters on Oxford Street's most iconic store. 'Awful,' she says.

Pin the blame where it belongs. This is not the fault of the Chinese people. It is the Chinese Communist dictatorship which hold the responsibility for the spread of the coronavirus.

A advertising company from Bogotá, Colombia, created hospital beds with metal railings that designers say can double as a casket if a patient dies.

This newspaper revealed last week how hackers linked to Russia and Iran were behind 'utterly reprehensible' hits on British institutions.

Chief executive Craig Hassal said the 2m social distancing rules would force the London venue to cut its capacity to just 30 per cent and close its bars and restaurants, adding the situation is 'desperate'.

The footballers' wives have been at loggerheads after Coleen, 34, accused Rebekah, 38, of leaking stories about her, and their case could now go to the High Court after failing to reach a resolution.

Qantas has confirmed it will stop printing out Frequent Flyer numbers on boarding passes 'over the next few weeks'. In the social media age, hackers are selling Frequent Flyer points on the black market.

The cracks were discovered on the 'pickle fork' of a Boeing 737 - the part attaches the body to the wing. Australian airline Qantas vowed to check 33 planes.

Qantas has grounded three Boeing 737 jets after cracks were found in the part of the aircraft connecting the wings with the body. Maintenance engineers want the entire fleet grounded.

Flight attendants have fired back at rapper will.i.am after he accused an air stewardess of racism during a flight to Sydney over the weekend.

The Veronicas' Lisa and Jessica Origliasso have been announced as presenters at this year's ARIA Awards on Wednesday November 27.

A passenger who was on the same Qantas flight as will.i.am has backed up the rapper's claims of racism as he revealed a third black musician was singled out in the row.  

MailOnline will board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at London Heathrow tomorrow that will then fly non-stop to Sydney - a distance of 11,060 miles that'll take 19-and-a-half hours to cover.

Australian shoppers can turn supermarket rewards into thousands of Qantas and Virgin 'frequent flyer' points by strategically buying $50 Netflix vouchers during special bonus offers.

Kay Newman took her beloved boxer Duke on a Qantas flight from Sydney to Brisbane on December 19, but blames Qantas for Duke's death after he was left on the tarmac in 39C heat.

Anthony Balletta's bulldog Frank is just one of the cases prompting the move from Qantas after the pet died on a flight between Sydney and Melbourne that cost $1100 for the dog alone.

Up to 100 Australians still remain in the Chinese coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan after 266 'clinically well' evacuees arrived in Darwin on a chartered Qantas flight on Sunday.

Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths were the first to flag offers for staff members being made redundant during the coronavirus pandemic.

A woman in her 40s was found dead after emergency services were called to Greenall Court in Prescot, Merseyside, at around 3.30am on Saturday. A man, 38, was arrested at the scene.