This conference has been postponed and will be rescheduled to take place in early 2011.

The possible effects of chemicals on human health and the environment continue to be hotly debated with fresh research on the influence of so called "endocrine disruptors" giving rise to even greater public visibility in recent years.

There has been a great amount of press attention centred on endocrine disruptors following the EPA's much proposed implementation of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Programme (EDSP) in2009.  Under the new EDSP chemical manufacturers- and specifically manufacturers and importers of pesticide active and inert ingredients - are required to screen for potential endocrine activity using a set of screening assays from the EPA.  

This move from the EPA is likely to trigger further actions from the European Commission who have been working on their own strategy for endocrine disruptors.  There is now a sense of urgency to move forward with the European Commission's "priority list for further evaluation" to provide clarity to the chemical industry and downstream users.

Suspected endocrine disruptors have been classified under the REACH chemicals regulation as "substances of equivalent concern" to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) agents, which are subject to the most stringent requirements for authorisation or complete marketing bans. Therefore any miscommunication about the priority list could have damaging repercussions for many businesses - particularly those involved in the manufacture of concentrated animal feed operations, paints, brominated flame retardants, pesticides and products containing Bisphenol-A and phthalates who risk a "black list" effect for their products.

Finding a workable system to identify and validate "endocrine active disruptive substances" and to assess their effects using appropriate risk-based approaches has not been without controversy.  The Holy Grail, it seems, is a set of clearly defined, integrated and globally harmonised test methods that minimise the need for animal testing.  Under the proposed European scheme priority chemicals have potential to interact with endocrine system will be selected for initial screening and testing, while in the US chemicals (initially pesticides and common inerts) will be prioritized based on exposure potential  to humans and the environment.

iSmithers and sister companies Springborn Smithers and Smithers Viscient, are organising a conference on Endocrine Disruptors with the support of the Swiss Center for Applied Ecotoxicology to address the impact of one regulatory programme on registrations in other geographical regions.  We are currently recruiting speakers for this high profile event, so if this is your area of expertise please consider submitting a paper.  Papers on the following topics will be especially welcome: 

• OECD framework for testing of endocrine disruptors
• Principles and practices of the EU testing scheme: what are the obligations?
• Update on the EPA's EDSP
• Update on Japan's programme for the screening of Endocrine Disruptors
• Interrelation between Endocrine Disruptor regulation, the Cosmetic Directive, REACH and the Pesticides Directive
• The Long Range Research Initiative (LRI) for endocrine disruptors
• Requirements for assays e.g. uterotrophic, hershberger and enhanced subacute/chronic tests
• Joint data development and possible establishment of chemical repository
• How will data sharing be enforced?
• Formation of cost sharing consortia for integrated testing
• Data compensation and data protection
• Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo test methods for screening large number of chemicals
• Test development for longterm, delayed and epigenetic effects
• Test development towards minimizing vertretrate use (invertebrates, in vitro, etc.)
• Overcoming the CRO bottleneck effect
• Development of exposure scenarios
• Interpretation of data and extrapolation to whole organism
• Procedures for amending registrations
• Case studies from industry on testing in practice

Presenting authors at Endocrine Disruptors will be entitled to free registration on both days of the conference including lunches, refreshments and a copy of the proceedings. If you are interested in presenting a paper at this event, please send a title, short summary, speaker name(s) and company name(s) to Alix Reeves email areeves@ismithers.net or Fax +44(0)1939 252416.

Who Should Attend?

This conference would be of relevance to individuals working in the following areas:

• In vitro Toxicology, Toxicology and Eco-toxicology
• Research & Development
• Regulatory Affairs
• Contract Research Organisations (CROs)

Conference Language
Please note that the conference will be conducted in English.

Venue Information

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