What is the Malta Initiative Priority List?
Since 2017 the Mata Initiative has been working to update OECD Test Guidelines (TG) and Guidance Documents (GD) to ensure that they are applicable to nanomaterials and (other) advanced materials. OECD TGs are essential for industry and regulatory authorities involved in the testing and evaluation of chemicals and to ensure that legislation works.
In March 2024, the Malta Initiative released its Malta Initiative Priority List. This will help ensure that the harmonised methods that are required in the near future for nanomaterials and (other) advanced materials will be available. Ensuring that innovations in materials can come to the market and comply with regulations requires collaboration between experts from science, industry and authorities to set priorities for which test methods are required.
The Priority List has the following aims:
- Helping make legislation implementable and supporting industry in effective regulatory compliance;
- Providing guidance to funders for the support required for the next generation of Test Guidelines;
- Encouraging scientists to develop the required methods and bring them through to OECD Test Guidelines; and
- Supporting the ongoing work of all Member Countries of the OECD relating to chemical safety.
The Malta Initiative Priority List is a list of prioritised actions to support the development and amendment of OECD TGs for nanomaterials and (other) advanced materials. These are materials that have specific properties and behaviour due to their size, shape or structure. The List is a living document that will be updated every three years. It does not cover actions already ongoing in the OECD Test Guidelines Programme but highlights TGs that are still required. The Priority List has been brought together with the help of experts in the field of physical chemical properties, human and environmental toxicity. These experts include representatives from industry, academia and regulatory bodies.