The Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) has published a revised memorandum on the Weight of Evidence (WoE) approach for risk assessment, adopted on 22 October 2024. This updated guidance refines methodologies to enhance transparency, consistency, and applicability in evaluating health and ecological risks, addressing emerging scientific challenges.
Improved Framework for Risk Assessment
The 2024 memorandum introduces an updated multi-step WoE framework, emphasizing problem formulation, rigorous data sourcing, quality evaluation, evidence integration, and uncertainty analysis. These steps ensure comprehensive risk evaluations for health, consumer safety, and environmental impacts.
Innovations in Evidence Integration
The revised WoE framework leverages New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and Real World Data (RWD), addressing gaps in traditional data collection. By incorporating in vitro and computational models, SCHEER aims to reduce reliance on animal testing while ensuring robust scientific evidence. NAMs are supported by tools like the OECD Guidance Document on Good In Vitro Method Practices.
Enhanced Transparency in Quality and Consistency
Quality assessments categorize evidence by reliability, validity, and relevance, scoring them into high, medium, or low tiers. Integration prioritizes consistency, with three levels gauging agreement across multiple data sources. For decision-making, evidence quality is mapped onto a standardized scale from "very strong" to "uncertain."
Addressing Uncertainty and Future Risks
SCHEER underscores the importance of uncertainty analysis at every WoE stage, from data reliability to evidence synthesis. The guidance integrates probabilistic approaches for ecological assessments and new models for cumulative chemical risk evaluations, reflecting modern environmental challenges.
Implications for Policy and Stakeholders
By standardizing risk assessment methodologies, SCHEER seeks to align EU bodies like EFSA and ECHA, fostering consistent policy development. This revision aids stakeholders by improving clarity in risk evaluation processes and highlighting data gaps for future research.
