April update from the Secretary General

Dear ECETOC Members,

Time for a quick update on what’s on our plate!

Following our successful Scoping Meeting in September 2022, we’re now starting 3 new Task Forces on omics, biodiversity and degradation which I invite you to join.

Our work on NAMs is currently in full swing, and we are actively cooperating with EPAA and other industry associations ahead of the ECHA workshop of 31 May and 1 June, where I’ll be speaking on scientific challenges and opportunities for implementing NAMs in the regulatory context. The collaboration we initiated with these associations is another successful step in establishing ECETOC as a convenor for cross-sectorial exchange and we are looking forward to playing more similar roles in the future. Moreover, ECETOC is now part of the International Advisory Board of PARC, the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals, which aims to develop next-generation chemical risk assessment to protect human health and the environment.

As part of our ongoing efforts, we are currently planning workshops on exposure, the TRA update release and the importance of well managing chronos and kairos in chemical safety assessment. For all of these, special attention is being given to reaching the best possible audiences with the aim of increasing our role as knowledge disseminators.

Furthermore, ECETOC continues to expand its role as science broker for Cefic LRI; this year, we will be launching new projects and resuming our work on existing initiatives.

We are also in the process of preparing for our upcoming Annual General Meeting on 5 June in Brussels. It’s been a year since I joined the organisation and I’m looking forward to reviewing with you all that we’ve achieved over the past 12 months as well as discussing our plans for the future. I’m also excited about the debate on the future of risk-based assessment in chemical legislation and networking cocktail that will follow the AGM, in which we’ll exchange with guests from academia and European institutions. Make sure to save the date and keep watching this space for more updates!

If you have any questions on any of the activities I mentioned, please feel free to reach out to me.

On the membership front, we are very happy to welcome Rifcon as new member and hope to be able to introduce you all soon to their ECETOC delegate, Dr Christina Behr.

Some changes are happening also within the Secretariat: we will soon say goodbye to Andreea Cuciureanu, Bethany Robert-Rhodes and Audric Mathuren, our consultants from Vitis, whose collaboration contracts with ECETOC is coming to an end. On behalf of the whole organisation, I’d like to thank them for their great work and support.

As we say goodbye to these three colleagues, we’re also saying welcome to just as many! Lucy Wilmot, previously working as a consultant, will become a member of staff in her new role of Science Manager. Anne Vallès-Meunier has also joined our team taking over all office management and administration tasks from Geneviève, now officially enjoying her retirement. In addition to that, Sergio León Pérez, a recently-graduated chemist from Tenerife, has started an internship with us and will be providing support to all our activities.

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to all our members for their continued dedication and hard work in advancing our shared mission.

Sincerely,

Blanca Serrano