HBM and policy

HBM can be used to support policy making, to evaluate policy effectiveness and to promote more comprehensive health impact assessments of policy options. However, at European level its potential is not yet well used. The HBM and policy team is committed to promoting the policy relevance of HBM by:

• assessing existing needs, gaps and deficits
• contributing to a common understanding for future uses, in particular under REACH
• developing a concept for a sustainable European HBM framework
• developing a cost-impact assessment and policy recommendations on how to better link it to policy needs.

Current Status

An exchange platform (in terms of a discussion forum) has been set up on this website in order to enable stakeholder discussion on HBM as policy tool and the fast exchange of information on coordinated HBM in Europe. The forum allows experts involved in the project and COPHES members to directly rise, discuss, and answer any questions or problems related to the practical application of the harmonized approach to HBM as set in the consensus protocol.

Key needs and currently existing practice, expectations, benefits, operational issues, and remaining questions related to the use of HBM as policy tool have been collected via a questionnaire from competent authorities and other stakeholders and via literature search. The information collected has been compiled in a report which looks at the potential use of HBM in risk assessment, amongst other issues.

For further information, exchange, promotion of a common understanding and preparation of a concept for a sustainable HBM framework, the following stakeholder workshops (link) have been organised so far:

1. A EU Decision Makers Meeting on the Use of Human Biomonitoring (HBM) for policy making took place in Munich on 4 May 2011.
2. A European Authorities Scientific Expert Meeting on the Use of Human Biomonitoring as a policy tool on mid & long-term perspective was held in Brussels on 2 February 2012.

The programmes, abstracts and speakers' presentations are available for download here

Further activities and results

In the coming months our team's focus will be on:

• Bilateral contacts and information exchange with Member States and Commission services
• Participation in public consultations related to the drafting of the 7th Environment Action Plan.
• Organisation of a workshop with policy makers from Member State authorities, EU
  institutions, along with other stakeholders, to discuss a preliminary concept for a HBM
  framework and prepare recommendations for the final COPHES/DEMOCOPHES project meeting from 22-25 October  2012, under Cypriot EU Presidency.
• Preparation of a session at the final COPHES/DEMOCOPHES project meeting in Cyprus.

In the coming months, until the end of the project, the HBM and Policy team will also prepare:

• A draft concept for a sustainable HBM framework in Europe, including requirements for operational structures.
• A report on expected costs, benefits and resources needed.
• A report on policy recommendations and results of an exchange platform.