EPA's Role with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization of 38 member countries that promotes economic growth, prosperity, and sustainable development. OECD works across a range of policy areas, including economic, environmental, development, social, technology and trade.
EPA leads U.S. engagement with OECD’s Environment Policy Committee (EPOC) and the OECD's Chemical and Biotechnology Committee (CBC) and related subsidiary bodies.
Founded in 1970, EPOC has a long history of promoting effective and economically efficient policies to respond to important environmental concerns. EPOC oversees work on country environmental performance reviews, environmental indicators and outlooks, climate change, environmental finance and investment, natural resource management, policy tools and evaluation, environment and development, and resource efficiency and waste.
EPA’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA) provides technical expertise for OECD analyses and reports to guide the policy work of EPOC and OECD’s environmental portfolio by coordinating across EPA offices and other U.S. Government agencies.
EPOC’s substantive work is undertaken by its working parties and other subsidiary bodies. Representatives from EPA and other U.S. agencies serve as U.S. delegates to the Working Parties and participate in meetings as technical experts.
- Visit the official website of the OECD.
The work of the CBC is focused on developing tools for efficient and effective management of chemicals (including pesticides, industrial chemicals, and products of biotechnology). EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention provides U.S. leadership in this forum, in which other EPA offices, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture also participate. The work of the CBC focuses on the harmonization of risk assessment tools and chemical safety policies across jurisdictions and the development and integration of test methods into the CBC’s flagship program, MAD, or Mutual Acceptance of Data. MAD is a system of international agreements whereby adhering countries agree to accept for assessment data generated in other countries if produced using OECD test guidelines and in accordance with good laboratory practices. EPA works closely with other government agencies and with other countries through the OECD to facilitate development of test guidelines, and to keep them current. MAD reduces cost for governments and chemical producers and conserves scientific resources, including the minimal use of laboratory test animals. The CBC also provides a forum for work and experience-sharing and cooperation on chemical safety and risk assessment among all OECD countries and participating non-member governments.
OECD Global Forum on Environment Dedicated to Mercury
EPA staff participated in the OECD Global Forum on Environment dedicated to mercury which took place from November 7-8, 2022 in Paris, France. The Forum’s focus was on promoting effective engagement, collaboration, and action to eliminate or reduce mercury from supply chains for gold, mercury-added products, and mercury processes. EPA represented the US delegation to the OECD CBC on a conclusion panel for the forum. EPA staff led discussions on the role of cooperation in fighting ongoing illegal trade of mercury and mercury-added products and presented on approaches to reduce mercury trade from decommissioned mercury-cell chlor-alkali facilities.
Learn More:
Examples of Specific EPA and OECD Areas of Work
Environment Ministerial
Waste
Chemicals
Pesticides
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) around the World
Additional Information
- US Mission to the OECD
- Explore all of EPA's Partnering with International Organizations
- EPA Press Release for Former Administrator Regan Participation
Contacts
For additional information on EPA's work with the OECD,
Brianna Besch
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2660R)
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: besch.brianna@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-6600