Regulatory & Policy Developments

   1. ECHA Released an Updated PFAS Restriction Proposal (late August 2025)

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) unveiled an updated proposal under REACH to restrict PFAS broadly. This marks a key milestone in the universal PFAS restriction process initially submitted by multiple EU countries. The update indicates the regulatory machinery is advancing toward comprehensive PFAS control. ECHA

   2. EU Drafting Blanket PFAS Restrictions (August 2025)

Europe is poised to impose broad restrictions on PFAS, although some exceptions are reportedly being considered. Environmental advocates, particularly ChemSec, condemn any dilution of these measures and urge for a complete ban to safeguard communities and ecosystems. Chemical & Engineering News

   3. Ban on PFAS Pesticide Flufenacet (March 2025)

On 12 March 2025, EU Member States adopted the European Commission’s proposal to ban flufenacet, a PFAS pesticide and endocrine disruptor that degrades into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly persistent and mobile contaminant now found in water sources. This decision is seen as an important move to protect human health, especially of pregnant women and newborns, and to safeguard Europe’s water systems. PAN Europe

   4. EU Agreement to Ban PFAS & EDCs in Toys by 2030

On April 10, 2025, EU institutions reached a compromise to ban PFAS and specific endocrine disruptors (like BPA) in toys by 2030—especially those intended for toddlers (e.g.,teething rings). A broader regulation covering all PFAS-containing items is expected around 2026. entrevue.fr

Research & Advocacy Highlights

  5. Scientific Advocacy for Tighter PFAS Regulation

An open letter—endorsed by the European and global endocrine communities—calls for substantial changes to REACH and a universal PFAS restriction. It highlights PFAS prevalence, persistence, and health threats, advocating urgent regulatory reform. Endocrine+1eurospe.org

  6. Meta-Analysis Emphasizing EDC Risks in Europe

A systematic review published recently underscores that ED chemical exposure remains a significant and under-recognized public health concern in Europe, calling for reinforced regulations, surveillance, and ongoing research. journal.medtigo.com

Past & Upcoming Event

EUROTOX Congress

The 59th Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology, took place 14–17 September 2025 at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, Athens, Greece.

We joined experts and stakeholders from across Europe to advance the discussion on how toxicology could better address real-life risks and support sustainable health and well-being. This was also a great opportunity to connect with laboratories that we collaborate with and stakeholders that wanted to learn more about our work.

As a public-private platform dedicated to the validation of methods for endocrine disruptor detection, Pepper have developed a comprehensive program of organizing, funding, and managing method validation studies. We highlighted how this model accelerate the transition from research to regulatory acceptance, making validated methods available for decision-making sooner. Discussions were held with several interested parties for which method validation is on the horizon or a part of their current program.

Pepper’s presence at #EUROTOX2025 was an opportunity to share our vision, exchange knowledge, and strengthen collaborations toward safer and healthier societies.

Notably, we presented a poster on the validation study of a RAR transactivation method (poster no. P18-64 in topic T-18 In silico and in vitro methods, Abstract no. 838).

Pepper at the 16th International Akademie Fresenius Conference on Endocrine Disruptors

📅   25–26 November 2025

📍   Düsseldorf, Germany / Live Stream

Pepper is pleased to announce that Torben will be representing us at the 16th International Akademie Fresenius Conference on Endocrine Disruptors, scheduled for 25–26 November 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany—or you can catch his presentation via live stream akademie-fresenius.com

Torben will deliver an oral presentation titled:
“The Pepper experiences with ring-trial validation of methods in the ED space”

In his talk, he will cover:

• Requirements and readiness of endocrine disruptor (ED) test methods

• Organizing validation projects

• Submission and review under the OECD Test Guidelines (TG) system
  

This presentation underscores Pepper’s hands-on expertise in structuring and managing method validation studies to meet regulatory readiness. Attendees will gain insight into the full validation lifecycle—from method assessment to regulatory submission.

    10 % early bird discount offer – valid until 30 September 2025 | Code: ENDOCRINE10  

    ➡️ Information
    ➡️ Full program

Pepper’s News

New validation report

This summer Pepper submitted its second Validation Report to OECD following the finalization of a successful validation project. This time the project was for a retinoic acid receptor transactivation assay (RARTA) covering a key biological system in endocrine disruption. The project involved four laboratories that tested 30 blinded chemicals with great concordance and reproducibility. The project report is now under peer review that will end in Q1 of 2026 after which we aim to continue toward an OECD test guideline drafting.

Pepper’s Publication

Peppers first article on a method validation study was published over the summer in Toxicology In Vitro:  “Inter-laboratory validation study of an in vitro glucocorticoid receptor transactivation assay for testing potential endocrine disrupting chemicals”. The article highlight the successful ring-trial validation from the first generation of validation projects at Pepper.
The article covers a multi-laboratory validation study of a Glucocorticoid receptor transactivation assay. Thanks to all involved laboratories, data manager and statistician, and to our sponsors in achieving this milestone.

    ➡️ Read the article online

Pepper’s first draft test guideline submission

Last year Pepper submitted the first Validation report to OECD for the glucocorticoid receptor transactivation assay (see article section). The report has since undergone peer review which led to updating of the report, answering of the raised questions and suggestions and to the drafting of a test guideline based the method procedure. These documents were submitted to OECD and will be the subject of further scrutiny by their expert group with the aim to have the draft test guideline adopted into the OECD test guideline system. The first meeting on the draft guideline is to be held in October and Pepper is looking forward to this interaction to help improve the draft guideline and to gain experience with this part of the OECD process. Pepper has this year submitted a second Validation report for review (see New Validation report section) and will regularly do so as more validation projects are finalized in the coming years.

NAMWISE updates

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲!
NAMWISE YouTube channel is your go-to space for insights into the future of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).

You can already find there 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 with the project coordinator Laure Geoffroy (INERIS), diving into the vision, goals, and progress of NAMWISE.

➡️  Watch the interviews

The 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 aims to 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝘀 for assessing the 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀. By delivering recommendations, guidance, and training resources, NAMWISE is paving the way toward effective validation and implementation of NAMs.

Stay connected with NAMWISE!

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