March 14, 2005
The Ministry of the Environment (MoE) announced a "Perspectives on Endocrine Disrupting Effects of Substances - ExTEND 2005-", revising the "Strategic Programs on Environmental Endocrine Disruptors '98 - SPEED'98-" formulated in May 1998.
In line with SPEED'98 (renewed in November 2000 with additional new findings), the MoE has been promoting research on the mechanism of endocrine disruption, developing testing methods, implementing tests, and organizing international symposia.
Since the formulation of SPEED'98, new scientific knowledge has been steadily accumulated and international cooperation has been advanced through various efforts for the following five years. Based on these, the MoE established a "SPEED'98 Revision Working Group" in 2003, composed of experts and representatives from consumer groups, which examined for two years. The draft of the revision submitted by the working group was published to invite public comments from December 28, 2004 to January 28, 2005. Taking consideration of public comments made on the draft, the MoE compiled "Perspectives on Endocrine Disrupting Effects of Substances - ExTEND 2005".
The MoE shall advocate various measures including research, study and risk communication in accordance with this new policy from FY 2005.
| Note: | "ExTEND" is a word-formation of Enhanced Tack on Endocrine Disruption and year of its publication. |
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| * | Perspectives on Endocrine Disrupting Effects of Substances - ExTEND 2005 |