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Consultation in Progress
Technical Expert Group for the Screening Assessment of Living Organisms listed on the Domestic Substances List
When: 1 year contract (May 2007-May 2008) with possibility of renewal
Where: Face-to-face meeting in Ottawa in September 2007, followed by 3 teleconferences
The Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) selected one (1) ENGO Representative to participate in the Technical Expert Group for the Screening Assessment of Living Organisms listed on the Domestic Substances List (DSL). The duration of the term is 1 year, from May 2007 to May 2008, with a possibility of renewal. The ENGO representative will attend one face-to-face meeting in Ottawa in September 2007, followed by three teleconferences.
Selected ENGO Representative:
Read the ENGO Report from the September 2007 meeting
Draft Terms of Reference
Program Information Note on SA-DSL
Visit the New Substances Website on Screening Assessment of Living Organisms on the DSL
For more information, please contact Leela Ramachandran, National Caucus Coordinator, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 223.
Background Info
The Biotechnology section of the New Substances Program (NSP-Biotech) has initiated screening assessments for all living organisms on the Canadian Domestic Substances List (see attached “Information Note”). NSP-Biotech plans to form a Technical Expert Group to provide scientific and technical advice on the process and guidelines being developed to guide screening assessments. The Technical Expert Group will assist the NSP-Biotech by making recommendations regarding the overall screening assessment process, including consultation with stakeholders and external review of screening assessment reports.
Members of the Technical Expert Group will be selected on the basis of equal representation and individual attributes (expertise, knowledge, experience in environmental microbiology, industrial microbiology, pathogenic microorganisms, and/or environmental and human health risk assessments ). The Technical Expert Group consists of approximately 10 members drawn from academia, industry, federal and provincial government organizations, and non-government organizations such as public advocacy groups.
Technical Expert Group Mandate:
Review, discuss, and make recommendations to the NS Program on issues related, but not limited to:
* The proposed Screening Assessment process, including:
- advising the NS Program on additional technical or scientific work and analysis, such as data gathering and external review, that the NS Program should undertake to better support conclusions and proposed measures arising from individual screening assessments.
- ensuring that the stakeholders’ involvement and its outputs meet the needs and expectations of the NS Program and that the consultation process is conducted in a timely and cost-effective manner.
- identifying gaps which may challenge the transparency of the process and/or scientific validity of screening assessments.
* Guidance Documents being drafted which will guide the NS Program throughout the Screening Assessment process.
* Need for and/or opportunities to engage additional stakeholders and/or external experts with relevant knowledge.
* Assist the NS Program in establishing Working Groups (WG) as required. WGs will provide advice and recommendations to the Technical Expert Group or NS Program for specific issues or tasks (may include, for example, external reviewers for screening assessments).
* Provide advice to NSD to help ensure transparency throughout the entire screening assessment process
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