10-12 April 2019: The OECD Conference on RNAi based pesticides provided an overview on the current status and future possibilities for the regulation of externally applied dsRNA-based products that are proposed for use as pesticides. The event facilitated exchanges between policy makers, academia, industry on their implications in health, environment, and regulation.

1. Richard SIGMAN
OECD
Richard Sigman, OECD

2. The OECD . . .
• Established: 1961
• Headquarters: Paris
• Membership: 36 countries and the
European Commission
• Structure: Council (Ambassadors)
Committees and Working
Groups
Secretariat

3. The OECD…
• is not a regulatory body
• is not a supranational organisation (like the EU)
 but rather an international organisation for
discussion where governments express their
points of view, share their experiences and
search for a common approach (adopting
consensus-based decisions)

4. Characteristics of OECD work
• Takes a multidisciplinary approach
• Collaborates with many different ministries
• Offers evidence-based, independent policy advice
• Provides decisions via consensus
• Monitors members’ progress through peer reviews
• Seeks and sets best practice standards
• Does not provide financial assistance

5. Competition
Trade
Education
Employment
Healthcare
Migration
Finance
Tax
evasion
Corruption
Fiscal policy
Energy
Innovation
Climate
change
OECD: Areas of Work
Development
assistance
Pensions
Entrepreneurship
Agriculture
Governance
ENVIRONMENT
(EHS)

6. • Industrial Chemicals
• Pesticides (Working Group on Pesticides)
• Biocides
• Manufactured Nanomaterials
• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
• Testing and hazard/risk assessment
• Risk management
• Prevention of accidents
• Information sharing
Environment, Health and Safety
Programme
6

7. • RNAi
• Illegal Trade of Pesticides (ONIP)
• Bio-Pesticides
• Electronic Exchange of Pesticide Data
• Pesticide Effects on Insect Pollinators
• Residue Chemistry Expert Group
• Minor Uses of Pesticides
Working Group on Pesticides
7

8. Expert Group on RNAi–based Pesticides
• Established in 2015
• Mandate: to examine if current assessment
methodologies – for agro chemicals and bio-
pesticides – can be applied to RNAi-based
pesticides
• Development of draft “Working Document on
Environmental Risks from the Application of
Sprayed or Externally Applied dsRNA-Based
Pesticides“
• CRP and external funding for Conference on
RNAi based Pesticides

9. OECD Conference on RNAi based Pesticides
• Steering Group established to organize
conference (US EPA, EFSA, BVL)
• Objectives:
– summarise the current state of knowledge and
developments relevant for the regulation of
externally applied dsRNA-based products that
are proposed for use as pesticides.
– inform regulatory policy and facilitate
harmonized approaches

10. OECD Conference on RNAi based Pesticides
• Programme:
– summary of the state of the art of dsRNA-
based product used in agriculture
– summary of regulatory and risk assessment
experience with dsRNA-based products
– Discussion themes
• Deliverables:
–recommendations to WGP for guidance
–proceedings