ICCVAM Biennial Report 2018-2019

OSHA and the DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration participated in meetings convened by the United Nations in 2018 and 2019 to harmonize international standards on safe handling of chemicals. OSHA attended meetings of the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, and DOT attended meetings of the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. Both ICCVAM agencies held public meetings to receive input from U.S. stakeholders in advance of the international meetings.

OSHA is currently leading the United States’ effort to update and expand the use of non-animal test data for GHS hazard classification. The GHS chapter on skin corrosion/irritation was updated in 2019 to reflect new in vitro test methods for classifying hazards as well as updating guidance on the use of data from in silico methods. The work will continue in 2020 with an update of the eye corrosion/irritation chapter. Updates to the eye chapter will include updated and expanded guidance on the use of in vitro and in silico test data for classification as well as introducing the use of defined approaches for use of data from multiple test methods. OSHA anticipates the GHS will adopt the changes to the eye corrosion/irritation chapter by the end of 2020.