Alternative Non-Testing methods Assessed for REACH Substances

September 8^th, 2011

Potential models for REACH endpoints available now!

We have compiled the list of available models potentially usable for REACH: CLICK HERE

REACH legislation states that Non-Testing Methods (NTM) can be used within REACH. These methods include Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) models and read-across. Before making an animal experiment the industry should verify if alternative methods exist. However, so far there is a deep gap of knowledge on which methods are available and can be used in practice.

ANTARES aims to reduce this gap assessing NTM as an alternative approach for the REACH legislation.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

to verify the possible use and performance of the non-testing methods for REACH;
to identify requirements and constraints originating from the REACH legislation which may affect the non-testing methods;
to identify safety assessment factors for the non-testing methods;
to identify the best applicability criteria for a safer use of the non-testing methods;
to integrate different non-testing methods, achieving superior performance;
to disseminate the results;
to promote non-testing methods for legislative purposes.

The main result will be a characterization of the non-testing methods suitable for REACH.

The project is organized in 13 Actions:

Action 1.

Survey of current methods for the compliance to the REACH legislation.

Action 2.

Identification of the criteria for the non-testing methods for the REACH legislation.

Action 3.

Identification of suitable experimental databases/data sets for the ecotoxicological, toxicological and environmental endpoints for REACH.

Action 4.

List of (Q)SAR models for the ecotoxicological, toxicological and environmental endpoints for REACH, and their review.

Action 5.

Validation of non-testing methods.

Action 6.

Identification of boundaries for best use of models (applicability domain) and of the assessment factors.

Action 7.

Architecture for integration of different non-testing methods for best performances and coverage of applicability.

Action 8.

Communication and Dissemination initiatives.

Action 9.

Web Portal.

Action 10.

Project Management.

Action 11.

Monitoring.

Action 12.

Audit.

Action 13.

After-LIFE Communication plan.

The LIFE Programme is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU, as well as in some candidate, acceding and neighbouring countries. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 3115 projects, contributing approximately €2 billion to the protection of the environment.

The ANTARES project (Grant Agreement LIFE08 ENV/IT/00435) is funded under the LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance component,which supports technological projects that offer significant environmental benefits, for example process or efficiency improvements.

This part of LIFE+ (the current phase of the programme, running from 2007-2013) also helps projects that improve the implementation of EU environmental legislation, that build the environmental policy knowledge base, and that develop environmental information sources through monitoring (including forest monitoring).

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