{"id":366,"date":"2020-06-11T10:28:40","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T08:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/role-missions-values\/"},"modified":"2025-03-06T10:28:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T09:28:16","slug":"our-mission","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/our-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"Our mission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Role <\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER is a non-profit association (under the French 1901 law) and a public-private platform dedicated to the pre-validation of endocrine disruptors characterization methods. It is supported by the French \u201cProgramme of Investments for the Future\u201d (PIA), government departments and industry associations. PEPPER\u2019s mission is to organize and fund scientific research and testing in order to obtain the proofs required by the authorities in charge of international validation (OECD, ECVAM, ISO). Hence the word \u201c<strong>pre-validation<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea first emerged in 2014, with the first National Strategy for Endocrine Disruptors in France \u2013 a first worldwide. PEPPER was then launched alongside the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ecologie.gouv.fr\/sites\/default\/files\/SNPE%202%20english%20-%20Action%20plan.pdf\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.ecologie.gouv.fr\/sites\/default\/files\/SNPE%202%20english%20-%20Action%20plan.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">second French National strategy<\/a>. Several elements have led to the creation of our organisation, the first of its kind in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Pepper _ Colloque _ Philippe Hubert interview ENG\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DtfSF2J-OlE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Accelerating research to understand and adapt our risk management and regulation.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns m-t-30 d-flex align-items-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"583\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/677.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/677.png 583w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/677-293x300.png 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Action 41                              Introducing a platform to support the validation of methods and tests permitting the identification of endocrine-disrupting effects<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Addressing the current confusion and uncertainty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The lists of suspected EDs which need to be assessed are controversial and long &#8211; from a couple of dozens to thousand entries. This situation of uncertainty has a damaging impact on public health and environment safety, innovation, products safety and trust in the authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/t.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4346\" style=\"width:466px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/t.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/t-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/t-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Addressing the lack of test methods<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/transparency\/regdoc\/index.cfm?fuseaction=list&amp;n=10&amp;adv=0&amp;coteId=1&amp;year=2018&amp;number=734&amp;dateFrom=&amp;dateTo=&amp;serviceId=&amp;documentType=&amp;title=&amp;titleLanguage=&amp;titleSearch=EXACT&amp;sortBy&amp;language=en\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/transparency\/regdoc\/index.cfm?fuseaction=list&amp;n=10&amp;adv=0&amp;coteId=1&amp;year=2018&amp;number=734&amp;dateFrom=&amp;dateTo=&amp;serviceId=&amp;documentType=&amp;title=&amp;titleLanguage=&amp;titleSearch=EXACT&amp;sortBy&amp;language=en\" target=\"_blank\">European Commission<\/a> has stressed the need for test methods allowing to characterize a substance as an endocrine disruptor. Many mechanisms are indeed at play, depending on age groups, for the human as well as for animal species. Despite some research progress, the range of available methods is incomplete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A missing link to fast-forward the validation process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only a small number of methods developed by scientists can effectively be used to regulate, classify or even simply build a consensus. Despite the research progress, the acknowledgement by official authorities is a long and difficult process, as the tests to establish the reliability, repeatability and reproducibility of methods are expensive, non-lucrative for the developers and do not bring any added value to existing research. The fact is that research funding for regulatory purposes is very little developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/link-image-raison-detre-ENG-1024x488.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7508\" style=\"width:665px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/link-image-raison-detre-ENG-1024x488.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/link-image-raison-detre-ENG-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/link-image-raison-detre-ENG-768x366.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/link-image-raison-detre-ENG-1536x733.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/link-image-raison-detre-ENG.jpg 1610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER\u2019s mission is indeed to carry out these operations, thereby meeting the demand from the EU to facilitate the work of international authorities like the OECD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The need to mutualise resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until recently, there was no funding available to support the validation process. Meanwhile a multitude of stakeholders are confronted to issues pertaining to EDs: health or biodiversity agencies as well as companies manufacturing or putting substances on the market. EU countries should mutualise their resources, as every industry is potentially concerned by endocrine disruption issues. They share the need for mutually acknowledged tools which are validated by international authorities. Mutualisation of testing facilities is also part of the process launched by PEPPER.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Ambitions <\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To fast-forward translational research<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER serves as a catalyst for translational research, by creating opportunities for operational applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To support the test laboratories and biotechnologies in France<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Involving laboratories in the testing of methods aims at supporting an industry which is critical to the French innovation ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To support evaluation by fostering a stakeholders dialogue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tools and solutions should meet an existing need and be considered with a practical approach. Between protecting the environment, biodiversity and human health, between scientific progress, existing issues and suspected risks, choices and priorities must be discussed; PEPPER brings together a wide range of stakeholders: authorities, scientists, laboratories, manufacturers, environmental, consumer and health organisations from different countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To protect innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER\u2019s work will protect innovation by allowing developers to work according to clear rules on health and environmental safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To create a European dynamic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>France has been and continue to be instrumental in the advancement of research and discussions on EDs in Europe. PEPPER is one element of this ambition. With organisations from other European countries as well as European and international organisations sitting in its governing bodies, with candidate methods as well as laboratories conducting the tests involving other European countries, PEPPER truly has a European ambition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First platform of its kind, PEPPER is destined to become a European organisation contributing to fast-forward the validation process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"487\" src=\"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/gt-1024x487.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/gt-1024x487.png 1024w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/gt-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/gt-768x365.png 768w, https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/gt.png 1070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To bring regulatory science and scientific research closer together<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regulatory science is the sciencewhich is used to base public authorities\u2019 decisions on scientific evidence. A 2019 <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www2.assemblee-nationale.fr\/content\/download\/80472\/893594\/version\/1\/file\/OPECST_Rapport_provisoire_agences_comp.pdf\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www2.assemblee-nationale.fr\/content\/download\/80472\/893594\/version\/1\/file\/OPECST_Rapport_provisoire_agences_comp.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">report from the French Parliamentary Office for evaluation of scientific and technological options (OPECST) on the assessment of risk for human health and the environnement by government agencies recommends<\/a> <em>to encourage a regular update of existing guidelines to prevent from unnecessary delays in the adoption of new performant and reliable methods and tests.<\/em> PEPPER\u2019s work will allow for a better dialogue and alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Values<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER was established on the principle that it is possible to work in a collaborative manner around the development of methods for the characterization of EDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To accept a diversity of perspectives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To this end, PEPPER will encourage cooperation between stakeholders which may have different agendas and constraints. The association members and the members of its governing bodies must pay attention to each other\u2019s (sometimes diverging) opinions and agree to build a dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To comply with the principles of scientific integrity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER works within the ethics rules defined by the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/allea.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">ALLEA<\/a>, namely reliability, honesty, respect, accountability and the vigilance to prevent the \u201cfabrication\u201d of results, falsification and plagiarism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To stay within its role<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER is committed to deliver tools which will be available to all, leading to common and established foundation for substances assessment and risk management. It is not PEPPER\u2019s role to comment on decisions from the organisations in charge of methods\u2019 validation. Neither is it to assess any substance nor to comment on risk management options. Should a member have to do any of the above, they cannot, in these circumstances, refer to their PEPPER membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To work in a \u00ab&nbsp;one health&nbsp;\u00bb mindset<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER\u2019s work on endocrine disruptors do not address human health separately from the environment and ecosystems. Test methods address one and the other and, preferably, both together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To work in an \u00ab&nbsp;open science&nbsp;\u00bb mindset<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PEPPER supports \u201copen science\u201d principles as per the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/science\/inno\/open-science.htm\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/science\/inno\/open-science.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OECD<\/a> definition ; our work will be made publicly available within the limits of intellectual property matters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Role PEPPER is a non-profit association (under the French 1901 law) and a public-private platform dedicated to the pre-validation of endocrine disruptors characterization methods. It is supported by the French \u201cProgramme of Investments for the Future\u201d (PIA), government departments and industry associations. PEPPER\u2019s mission is to organize and fund scientific research and testing in order [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-366","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=366"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7644,"href":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366\/revisions\/7644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ed-pepper.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}