The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has adopted a programme on the environment. It is implemented by the Environment Policy Committee (EPOC). The FPS Health monitors the work of the Committee and that of the various specialised work groups.
Since its establishment in 1971, this Environment Policy Committee (EPOC) of the OECD has played a key role as watchful eye by trying to elaborate effective and economically efficient responses to pressing environmental challenges.
This committee is formed of delegates from the capitals, meets every eight months and holds a meeting at the ministerial level every four years.
The EPOC Committee oversees the following areas of work:
• country reviews,
• indicators,
• modelling and outlooks,
• climate change,
• natural resources management,
• policy tools and evaluation,
• environment in emerging and transition economies,
• resource productivity and waste
• consumption and innovation.
The EPOC Committee cooperates with the Chemicals Committee. An EPOC working group was established on chemicals, pesticides and biotechnology.
This working group and the Chemical Review Committee together oversee the Chemical Safety and Biosafety Programme of the OECD.