On 27 June 27 2022, Belgium will host a launch event for PARC (European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals). In this large-scale European research project, nearly 200 institutions from 28 countries are working together with the European Commission to improve the assessment of chemical risks. Following the PARC kick-off in France at the beginning of May, Belgium is launching its participation in this project.
What is the objective of PARC?
The development of a new generation of methods to assess the risks of chemical substances: that is the aim of PARC. The focus is on people and the environment. These new methods will better enable Europe and Belgium to develop a scientifically based policy for chemical hazards and risks. Thanks to the new insights, human health and the environment will be better protected.
Launch event 27 June
The FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment and the National Contact Point (Environment Department) are organising a Belgian launch event on 27 June together with NEHAP, the Belgian National Environmental Health Action Plan (ed.: cooperation of all administrations in the field of environmental health), with all parties involved and other stakeholders.
Belgian partners
Twelve Belgian partners participate in PARC (VITO, Sciensano, all Flemish universities, ILVO, IsseP, PIH, OVAM and the Environment Department of the Flemish government). Among other things, they will measure the presence of chemical substances in humans and in the environment, as well as their possible health effects. In addition, research is also being done into new toxicity tests, in order to be able to move away from animal testing as much as possible.
More info about PARC
PARC is the largest European chemical risk assessment project with nearly 200 partners from 28 countries and three EU agencies (the European Environment Agency - EEA, the European Chemicals Agency - ECHA and the European Food Safety Authority - EFSA). The partnership runs for seven years and will end in spring 2029. PARC has an estimated budget of €400 million, half of which is funded by the European Commission and the rest by the partner countries. The French Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES) is the coordinator of the partnership.
