The NORMAN Association and the European Partnership for Chemicals Risk Assessment (PARC): let’s cooperate!
Authors: Dulio Valeria , Koschorreck Jan , van Bavel Bert , van den Brink Paul , Hollender Juliane , Munthe John , Schlabach Martin , Aalizadeh Reza , Agerstrand Marlene , Ahrens Lutz , Allan Ian , Alygizakis Nikiforos , Barcelo’ Damia’ , Bohlin-Nizzetto Pernilla , Boutroup Susanne , Brack Werner , Bressy Adèle , Christensen Jan H. , Cirka Lubos , Covaci Adrian , Derksen Anja , Deviller Geneviève , Dingemans Milou M. L. , Engwall Magnus , Fatta-Kassinos Despo , Gago-Ferrero Pablo , Hernández Félix , Herzke Dorte , Hilscherová Klára , Hollert Henner , Junghans Marion , Kasprzyk-Hordern Barbara , Keiter Steffen , Kools Stefan A. E. , Kruve Anneli , Lambropoulou Dimitra , Lamoree Marja , Leonards Pim , Lopez Benjamin , López de Alda Miren , Lundy Lian , Makovinská Jarmila , Marigómez Ionan , Martin Jonathan W. , McHugh Brendan , Miège Cécile , O’Toole Simon , Perkola Noora , Polesello Stefano , Posthuma Leo , Rodriguez-Mozaz Sara , Roessink Ivo , Rostkowski Pawel , Ruedel Heinz , Samanipour Saer , Schulze Tobias , Schymanski Emma L. , Sengl Manfred , Tarábek Peter , Ten Hulscher Dorien , Thomaidis Nikolaos , Togola Anne , Valsecchi Sara , van Leeuwen Stefan , von der Ohe Peter , Vorkamp Katrin , Vrana Branislav , Slobodnik Jaroslav 
Published: July 2020

The Partnership for Chemicals Risk Assessment (PARC) is currently under development as a joint research and innovation programme to strengthen the scientific basis for chemical risk assessment in the EU. The plan is to bring chemical risk assessors and managers together with scientists to accelerate method development and the production of necessary data and knowledge, and to facilitate the transition to next-generation evidence-based risk assessment, a non-toxic environment and the European Green Deal. The NORMAN Network is an independent, well-established and competent network of more than 80 organisations in the field of emerging substances and has enormous potential to contribute to the implementation of the PARC partnership. NORMAN stands ready to provide expert advice to PARC, drawing on its long experience in the development, harmonisation and testing of advanced tools in relation to chemicals of emerging concern and in support of a European Early Warning System to unravel the risks of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and close the gap between research and innovation and regulatory processes. In this commentary we highlight the tools developed by NORMAN that we consider most relevant to supporting the PARC initiative: (i) joint data space and cutting-edge research tools for risk assessment of contaminants of emerging concern; (ii) collaborative European framework to improve data quality and comparability; (iii) advanced data analysis tools for a European early warning system and (iv) support to national and European chemical risk assessment thanks to harnessing, combining and sharing evidence and expertise on CECs. By combining the extensive knowledge and experience of the NORMAN network with the financial and policy-related strengths of the PARC initiative, a large step towards the goal of a non-toxic environment can be taken.