You can see the talks between Mino and Sakai who belong to Product Safety Assessment Div. in the interview. For the articles of Sakai, please click here.
Test conducted according to the objective leads to the appropriate risk assessment.
We handle tests for the diversified chemical substances.
Importance of risk management
is rising.
(Sakai) Tell me what type of inquiries you receive on tests. I mean, I want to know if there is something specific other than many inquiries on the tests for applications in offshore regions.
(Mino) I hear recently that 'symbol mark is given due to a possibility of toxicity value of materials if mixture product is tested based on GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals), but actually mixing ratio is low and the product surely has no toxicity, so hopefully it is to be checked.' If the case corresponds with marine pollutants under United Nations Recommendations on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG), it is reflected on the transportation cost. Therefore, there are lots of clients who concern about it. There is a possibility to determine the actual toxicity by using aquatic organisms so that the mixture product can be classified more accurately and the trasnportation cost can be curbed.
(Sakai) Certainly. Details of the inquiries have been slightly changing along with the expansion of the clients' businesses, such as application in a single country to several nations, TDG and toxicity assessment of mixture product, and environmental risk assessment for pharmaceuticals.
(Mino) Yes. Compared to what we had before, I am asked many times about substances with difficulty to test including water-insoluble substances. I am positively tackling to take in new technology and tests. Also, I have the opportunity to be a trainer at the external training, in which I am given various opinions as a neutral position between the regulatory authorities and the clients. I feel the needs for ecotoxicity test on self-imposed regulations have been hiking. I also think, against the backdrop of the recent social situations, promotion of sustainability has become important at the clients side and especially, risk assessment of chemical substances with consideration of product lifecycle has become more and more important.
From making proposals for the tests according to your requests and schemes to practicing them,
We can give you comprehensive support.
the in-house test facilities.
We can observe the results of
the other tests for information sharing,
and can implement the preparation for
applications in a smooth manner.
(Mino) Generally if the data is based on OECD*1 Test Guideline (test method) and GLP*2, it is possible for the said data to be accepted by OECD member countries, even though the test is conducted in the other country. On the other hand, the guidelines for tests are different between the application for Chemical Substances Control Law and the same for offshore regions in some cases, which is caused by the individual designing of the test methods due to the different natural environment of the countries where chemical substances are effused. The guidelines of tests are not universal but are successively considered internally or externally, and are updated or renewed every year. When the authorities consider new guidelines to be adopted, we may cooperate with them as a test institution and propose a new menu for clients.
(Sakai) It is our advantage that we can practice environmental risk assessment test including ecotoxicity test at our in-house facilities, because it allows us to proceed with the information sharing and the preparation for applications in the observation of the other tests without hardships.
(Mino) That's right. We can share the information on what we should care when the test is asked to be conducted in offshore regions. I belive we will not ask the clients to check more than necessary and it will lessen the clients' burdens. Further, a person who has experienced application works takes a role of sales and gets back to test or application works afterward, like Sakai-san or me, and this may generate a benefit that the clients feel easy when they consult with us. (haha)
It is our strength that we can give comprehensive support ranging from tests responding to Chemical Substances Control Law of Japan and foreign countries to application for the regulatory authorities through 'Environment, Health and Safety Assessment Center', an adaptation facility for GLP.
It is necessary to take research conducted by each ministry and government office once in a few years so GLP adaption can continue to be verified. It is hard to respond to that, but we are confident that we can keep our data highly trustworthy as much as the hardships. Also, we formulate the test designing in accordance with variuos guidelines and propose GLP test, even if it is substance with difficulty to test. There are many experts of the environmental risk assessment field who can provide with comprehensive consultations on proposal and practice for tests. I believe it is important to have prior consultation rather than practice of tests when it comes to self-imposed regulations, because there is no law to be governed. We are happy if we can be of assistance to our clients in chemical management.
- OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- GLP: Good Laboratory Practice
