The Center's evaluation process is outlined below:

• Chemical Nominations
  • The nomination process is open to everyone including interested individuals, federal and state agencies, NTP staff, labor unions, and industry
• CERHR multi-agency Core Committee
  • Nominations are reviewed quarterly by the CERHR Core Committee, which is made up of NTP Agency representatives
  • Highest priority chemicals are identified based on production volume, extent of literature on reproductive or developmental toxicity testing, human exposure, public concern
  • Center staff prepares dossiers on candidate chemicals
  • Core Committee reviews dossiers and recommends chemicals for evaluation
  • Candidate chemicals approved by Associate Director, NTP
• First Solicitation of Public Comment
  • Federal Register notice announces candidate chemical(s) and solicits public comment, new data and planned studies, information on exposure and use patterns, and nominations of individuals qualified to serve on the Expert Panel
  • Public Comments are compiled by Center staff for review by the NTP
  • NTP decides which chemicals to evaluate and their order of priority
• Expert Registry and Panels
  • Core Committee reviews nominations for expert registry
  • Core Committee recommends expert panel members to Associate Director, NTP, for approval
• Second Solicitation of Public Comment
  • Federal Register Notice announces the Expert Panel meeting and panel members, requests public comments on the draft expert panel report and requests public comments to be made at the panel meeting
  • Draft expert panel report of sections 1-4 available on CERHR website or from CERHR by mail
  • The Draft Expert Panel Report provides the basis for preparing Section 5, Summary, Conclusions, and Critical Data Needs at the Expert Panel Meeting
• Expert Panel Meeting
  • The Expert Panel meets in public session to discuss their review of the literature and to complete the Expert Panel Report
  • Meeting includes time for presentation of public comments
• Final Solicitation of Public Comment; Expert Panel Report Published
  • Federal Register notice announces availability of Expert Panel Report and requests public comment.  This report is a product of the Expert Panel and is available on the CERHR website or from CERHR by mail
• NTP-CERHR Monograph
  • NTP staff prepares an NTP-CERHR Monograph on the chemical(s) evaluated
  • The NTP-CERHR Monograph is made publicly available and is distributed to federal and state agencies and other interested parties