Usually the studies for REACH information requirements on ecotoxicity, toxicity and physical-chemical properties are generated using test guidelines. These official guidelines have been approved by the OECD and EU.

Due to scientific and regulatory developments, test guidelines are updated and new ones introduced. With this web page, ECHA supports registrants by indicating how these may be used to meet the information requirements under REACH. For example, the role of new test guidelines within testing strategies is described, when appropriate. This information is provided before ECHA's guidance is formally updated.

The "Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment" may cover some of the guidelines. In those cases, the guidance should be consulted in addition to the information on this page.

The specific reference in the sections below is given to the OECD Test Guideline and to the EU Test Methods, when these are available.

Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment

eu test guidelines - expandable

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Physical-Chemical

At present, there are no prioritised test guidelines for Physical-Chemical properties to be published at this site.

Human health

Serious eye damage/eye irritation

Title and year of approval:: - Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability Test Method (BCOP), EU B.47, OECD 437 (adopted in 2009, revised in 2013 and 2017 by OECD)
: - Isolated Chicken Eye Test Method (ICE), EU B.48, OECD 438 (adopted in 2009 and revised in 2013 and 2017 by OECD)
: - Fluorescein Leakage Test Method (FL), OECD 460 (adopted in 2012 and revised in 2017 by OECD)
: - Short Time Exposure Test Method (STE), OECD 491 (adopted in 2015 and revised in 2017 by OECD)
: - Reconstructed Human Cornea-like Epithelium Test Method (RhCE), OECD 492 (adopted in 2015 and revised in 2017 by OECD)
: - Cytosensor Microphysiometer Test Method (CM) (Draft OECD TG under discussion)
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Document last updates:: 08/03/2018

Skin corrosion/irritation

Title and year of approval:: Corrosion
- Transcutaneous Electrical Resistance Test Method (TER), EU B.40, OECD 430, (2000, revised in 2013 and 2015 by OECD)
: - Reconstructed Human Epidermis Test Method (RHE) (includes more than one protocol), EU B.40 bis, OECD 431, (2000, revised in 2013, 2015 and 2016 by OECD)
: - Corrositex - In Vitro Membrane Barrier Test Method, OECD 435 (2006, revised in 2015)
: Irritation
- Reconstructed Human Epidermis Test Method (RHE) (includes more than one protocol), EU B.46, OECD 439(in EU 2009 and in OECD 2010, revised in 2013 and 2015 by OECD)

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Document last updates:: 8/03/2018

Skin sensitisation

Title and year of approval:: Test method OECD 442C – Key Event-Based Test Guideline for in chemico skin sensitisation assays addressing the Adverse Outcome Pathway Key Event on Covalent Binding to Proteins (adopted 2015, updated 2021)
: Test method OECD 442D – Key Event-Based Test Guideline: in vitro skin sensitisation assays addressing the AOP key event on keratinocyte activation (adopted 2015, updated 2018)
: The test method – OECD 442E – Key Event-Based Test Guideline: in vitro Skin Sensitisation assays addressing Key Event on activation of dendritic cells on the adverse outcome pathway for skin sensitisation (adopted 2017, updated 2018)

: Guideline - OECD 497 – Guideline on Defined Approaches for Skin Sensitisation (adopted 2021).

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Document last updates:: 13/10/2021

Genotoxicity

Title and year of approval:: - In Vitro Mammalian Cell Micronucleus Test, EU: B.49*, OECD: 487 (adopted 2010, revised 2014, 2016)
*The EU method is outdated and does not reflect the latest update of the corresponding OECD method. Any new test should be performed following the updated OECD TG.
: - In vitro mammalian cell gene mutation tests using the thymidine kinase Gene, OECD: 490 (adopted 2015, updated 2016), EU: none at present;
: - Transgenic rodent (TGR) somatic and germ cell gene mutation assays, EU: B.58, OECD: 488 (adopted 2011, revised 2013)
: - In vivo mammalian alkaline comet assay, EU: none at present, OECD: 489 (adopted 2014, updated 2016)

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Document last updates:: 8/03/2018

Environmental fate

Degradation

Title and year of approval:: OECD 314: Simulation Tests to Assess the Biodegradability of Chemicals Discharged in Wastewater, 2008

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Document last updates:: 19/03/2014

Bioaccumulation

Title and year of approval:: - OECD 315: Bioaccumulation in Sediment-dwelling Benthic Oligochaetes, 2008
: - OECD 317: Bioaccumulation in Terrestrial Oligochaetes, 2010
: - OECD 305: Bioaccumulation in Fish: Aqueous and Dietary Exposure, 2012

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Document last updates:: 19/03/2014

Ecotoxicity

Aquatic

Title and year of approval:: - OECD 236: Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity (FET) Test, July 2013
: - OECD 209: Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test (Carbon and Ammonium Oxidation), 23 July 2010
: - OECD 210: Fish, Early-life Stage Toxicity Test, 26 July 2013 (replaces OECD 210: Fish, Early-life Stage Toxicity Test, 17 July 1992)
: - OECD 211: Daphnia magna Reproduction Test, 2 Oct 2012 (replaces OECD 211: Daphnia magna Reproduction Test, 16 Oct 2008)

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Document last updates:: 19/09/2016

Terrestrial

Title and year of approval:: - OECD 226: Predatory mite (Hypoaspis (Geolaelaps) aculeifer) reproduction test in soil, 2008
: - OECD 232: Collembolan Reproduction Test in Soil, 2009

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Document last updates:: 19/03/2014

Sediment

Title and year of approval:: OECD 233: Sediment-Water Chironomid Life-Cycle Toxicity Test Using Spiked Water or Spiked Sediment, 2010

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Document last updates:: 19/03/2014