OECD-approved chemical safety tests facing recognition in India and Brazil

Rich country cosmetics companies may be able to avoid undertaking chemical safety tests in key emerging markets because of an Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) mutual acceptance of data system.

Using the unlikely acronym MAD, this procedure enables signatory countries to accept chemical safety tests carried out in fellow member states. While wealthy OECD countries already participate, the organisation says emerging markets South Africa, Singapore, Israel and Slovenia have become full members. And moreover, India, Brazil, Argentina and Malaysia have become provisional supporters, aiming to become full members soon. Then these countries “will accept data from OECD countries…”, said an OECD communiqué.