International approach of the assessment of chemical risks

One of the primary objectives of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) which is a cooperative venture of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is to carry out and disseminate evaluations of the risk to human health and the environment from exposure to chemicals. These evaluations are distributed to all Member States in order to provide a scientific and objective basis that national health or other relevant authorities may be able to use for planning, and for the development of regulatory and control measures. In view of frequent discrepancies in toxicological evaluations performed by different groups, it is recommended that a mechanism be established to assure a higher degree of uniformity and harmonization in the safety assessment of chemicals, and to develop globally acceptable standardized control measures.