No C 156/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 16.6.84 
Draft Council resolution on a programme of action of the European Communities on 
toxicology for health protection 
COM(84) 284 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 29 May 1984) 
(84/C 156/06) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaties establishing the 
European Communities, 
Having regard to the draft resolution submitted by 
the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the Council resolution of 21 January 1974 
concerning a social action programme (*) takes note 
of the social action programme of the Commission 
which provides for the formulation of proposals 
concerning the protection of the health of popu­
lations; 
Whereas, under Article 2 of the Treaty establishing 
the European Economic Community, the Community 
shall have in particular as its task, by establishing a 
common market and progressively approximating the 
economic policies of Member States, to promote 
throughout the Community a harmonious developing 
of economic activities, a continuous and balanced 
expansion and an accelerated raising of the standard 
of living; 
Whereas, at the conference held in Paris in October 
1972, the Heads of State or of Government affirmed 
that the first aim of economic expansion, which is not 
an end in itself, should be to enable disparities in 
living conditions to be reduced and that it should 
result in an improvement in the quality of life as well 
as in the standard of living; 
Whereas toxicology as a discipline has become 
established in recent years and has contributed 
significantly to the protection of health; 
Whereas a number of sectorial activities, such as 
those involving pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, human 
and animal foodstuffs, environmental chemicals, 
pesticides, occupational exposure to chemicals, 
already benefit from toxicological information and 
are assisted by a number of scientific advisory 
committees; 
O OJNoC 13, 12.2. 1974, p. 1. Whereas the various scientific research programmes 
of the European Community cover from the research 
point of view several areas of the present programme 
and will provide therefore a valuable input of new 
knowledge; 
Whereas the present programme will assist the 
development of clinical toxicology and the integration 
of experimental, clinical and analytical data; 
Whereas the present programme, by ensuring the 
quality and comparability of data and by identifying 
testing facilities and on-going testing programmes, 
should help promote a more rational and economic 
use of the toxicological testing facilities in the 
European Community; 
Whereas the assessment of normal variability in the 
functioning of tissues and organs should help to 
define the term 'health' as referred to in Article 36 of 
the EEC Treaty; the present programme, by ensuring 
the quality and comparability of data and of testing 
methods, is likely to contribute to the elimination of 
certain obstacles to trade where those obstacles are 
based on considerations of health; 
Whereas there is a need to have sufficient resources 
in the European Community for toxicological 
evaluation and the level of toxicological awareness 
should be enhanced; 
Whereas this programme should help avoid 
unnecessary testing on laboratory animals; 
Whereas the Toxicology Section of the Scientific 
Advisory Committee on Toxicology and 
Ecotoxicology established by the Commission in 1978 
should provide scientific advice to this programme; 
Whereas cooperation with the various international 
agencies having activities in this area and in particular 
the World Health Organization (WHO), the United 
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the 
International Labour Organization (ILO) through 
their joint International Programme on Chemical 
Safety, as well as the International Agency for 
Research in Cancer (IARC) and the Organization for 
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is 
essential to avoid duplication of efforts; 
16.6.84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 156/7 
EXPRESSES THE POLITICAL WILL: 
to take, in keeping with the urgency of the matter 
and bearing in mind what is feasible at national and 
Community level, the measures required so that 
between now and the end of 1990 the following 
priority actions in particular can be undertaken: 
1. Toxicological practice 
Determine the feasibility of compiling and main­
taining a register of toxicity testing facilities in 
Member States. Undertake assessments of current 
methods and practice in order to improve the 
quality and comparability of toxicological data and 
to facilitate their acceptability. 
2. Clinical toxicology 
Review the role and functioning of poison centres 
and related clinical toxicological services: organize exchanges of experience and information and 
develop the use of their data for epidemiological 
and statistical purposes. 
Review current practice in the assessment of 
normal variability of biochemical and physiological 
parameters and recommend common standards. 
3. Training and information 
Evaluate manpower needs for toxicology and 
make recommendations for training requirements: 
promote the exchange of expertise and infor­
mation between Member States. 
REQUESTS THE COMMISSION: 
to prepare annually, after consulting Member States, 
a forward outline of the work it intends to carry out 
on the implementation of this resolution.