The European Partnership PARC’s role in actively promoting the uptake of new approach methodologies and next-generation risk assessment into regulatory risk assessment practice

Existing approaches for human health risk assessment of chemicals have overall provided a high level of protection for EU citizens. However, the established assessment schemes face numerous challenges. Ethical and scientific concerns about using animals for safety testing have triggered awareness of the need for a paradigm shift, requiring new concepts for chemical risk assessment complementing and, in the long run, replacing existing schemes. Next-Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) using new approach methodologies (NAMs) is commonly regarded as the way forward. However, adequately meeting regulatory needs is challenging. The European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) supports the development of NGRA frameworks and their implementation at all levels, from developing adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), NAMs and integrated approaches to testing and assessments (IATAs), to designing new conceptual approaches and formulating strategic roadmaps. A particular strength of PARC is its focus on interaction and collaboration with stakeholders from all sectors of the chemical risk assessment community to promote cooperation, advance research, increase knowledge of chemical risk assessment and train methodological skills. Its results will help launch European and national strategies to reduce risks posed by hazardous chemicals, to reduce animal testing and to implement NGRA strategies in regulatory practice.