Take home thoughts

223.             The technology now exists to provide accurate and robust evidence-based risk assessments for human life and health. The workshop participants discussed how science and technology have merged to provide the best methodologies in chemical risk assessment and the most efficient and accurate consumer safety.

224.             The workshop looked across the landscape, at what we have now, any gaps, what they are, and who and how to fill them.

225.             The science is sufficient, so we are now at the point where what is needed are initiatives to explore the possibilities. There also needs to be consideration as to what the outcomes will be if these new emerging technologies are not utilised.

226.             Applying such values would lead to better and more informed policy decisions and would have major implications not only for an effective risk assessment but also consumer safety as well as advocating the ONE health approach.

227.             Risks to life, longevity and health can be monetised for policy analysis therefore the roadmap and NAMs might need to use initiatives like: the Value of a Life Year (VOLY) and Willingness-To-Pay for a Quality Adjusted Life-Year (WTP-QALY), used by the UK government Departments and Agencies. In particular, it addresses the question of whether a VOLY that is compatible with a Value of a Prevented Fatality (VPF) and WTPQALY could be elicited directly on the basis of current theoretical and empirical practice.

228.             In terms of implementation, there are no specific barriers in law to integrate and use NAMs in risk assessment as it states that if alternatives are available, they should be used. However, the need now is to persuade advisors to use these methods and be bolder.

229.             Most committees would be happy to use NAMs for mechanist support. However there needs to be the confidence to do it. Case studies should be used to supersede the animal studies.

230.             Ultimately the implementation of NAMs in chemical risk assessment will be an integrated process building confidence over time.