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This report gathers information on alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).in cosmetic products, focusing on their commercial availability, current uses, market penetration, feasibility, effectiveness, and cost. PFASs provide a wide range of functions in cosmetic products, acting as hair and skin conditioning agents, emulsifiers, stabilisers, oil and water-resistant agents, lubricants, bulking agents and/or oil-resistant surfactants. Technically and economically feasible alternatives to intentionally used PFASs in cosmetic products are widely available on the market, which implies a high substitution potential. However, substituting PFASs in cosmetics often requires the entire product reformulation to provide the same functionalities to the product, and like-for-like ‘drop-in’ replacements are unlikely to happen.

Los países de América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) deben adoptar una amplia y ambiciosa agenda de inversión para emprender una trayectoria de desarrollo más sólida y sostenible. La decimosexta edición de Perspectivas Económicas de América Latina propone formas para hacer realidad esta agenda mediante acciones coordinadas entre los responsables de la formulación de políticas, el sector privado y los socios internacionales. El informe sostiene que para cerrar las brechas de inversión existentes y superar los retos estructurales de la región es esencial incrementar tanto la inversión nacional como la extranjera. Estas inversiones deben actuar como catalizador de empleos de mayor calidad y optimizar la estructura productiva, aprovechando el potencial de los recursos de ALC y de las transiciones verde y digital. Es clave mejorar la gobernanza y la información para promover inversiones públicas y privadas efectivas y eficientes. Las instituciones públicas son fundamentales para alinear las inversiones con las estrategias nacionales de desarrollo y para fortalecer el contrato social. El informe presenta opciones de financiamiento para respaldar esta nueva agenda de inversión, entre las que se incluyen instrumentos de deuda innovadores y un papel renovado de las instituciones de financiamiento del desarrollo, al tiempo que destaca la importancia de revitalizar las alianzas internacionales en el marco de dicha agenda de inversión.

This report complements the "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Alternatives in Coatings, Paints, and Varnishes (CPVs)" report (2022) which summarised the commercial availability and current uses of PFASs and non-PFAS alternatives in CPVs. This study complements the 2022 report by compiling information on the hazard profile of the substances identified (fluoropolymers, short-chain PFAS, and non-PFAS alternatives) in terms of hazard classifications from authorities and industry and available assessments from authorities on persistence, bioaccumulation, environmental and health hazards.

At a time when global trade is under pressure and countries increasingly turn to regional integration to support their development, this Spotlight is a timely read for policy makers and business leaders in Africa and beyond. It shows how harnessing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can support industrialisation in Egypt, and more widely in Africa, by tapping the full potential of regional supply chains, including renewable energies, pharmaceuticals, logistics and creative industries. This report builds on and enriches the Production Transformation Policy Review of Egypt: Embracing Change, Achieving Prosperity.

This Policy Guidance is a product of the Development Assistance Committee’s multi-year programme of work on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in oil commodity trading. It proposes a set of relevant, feasible actions for providers of official development assistance (ODA) to respond to IFFs in oil commodity trading. The aim is to enhance the mobilisation of domestic resources for the benefit of populations living in oil-producing developing countries, and enable integrity in their energy transition, particularly in carbon trade.

This document contains Performance Standards which allow, in accordance with the principles of Guidance Document No. 34, determining the validation status (reliability and relevance) of similar and modified skin irritation test methods that are structurally and mechanistically similar to the RhE test method in OECD Test Guideline (TG) 498. These PS include the following sets of information: (i) Essential Test Method Components that serve to evaluate the structural, mechanistic and procedural similarity of a new similar or modified proposed test method, (ii) a list of 12 Reference Chemicals to be used for validating new or modified test methods and (iii) defined target values of reproducibility and predictive capacity that need to be met by proposed test methods in order to be considered similar to the validated reference methods. The purpose of Performance Standards (PS) is to provide the basis by which new similar or modified test methods, both proprietary (i.e., copyrighted, trademarked, registered) and non-proprietary, can be deemed to be structurally and mechanistically similar to a Validated Reference Method (VRM) and demonstrated to have sufficient reliability and relevance for specific testing purposes (i.e., scientifically valid), in accordance with the principles of Guidance Document No. 34).

Located in the mid-Atlantic, the archipelagos of the Azores is an autonomous region of Portugal and an European Union Outermost Region. Once central to global trade routes, the Azores are aspiring to regain a prominent international role by leveraging their unique geographical, natural and historical attributes. To that end, this Production Transformation Policy Review (PTPR) Spotlight identifies priority actions in several areas, including scientific research and collaborations, the ocean economy, agro-food and renewable-energy value chains. It shows the importance for EU Outermost Regions, as well as for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), of building resilient international ties. It benefited from an extensive peer review process involving public and private stakeholders from Brazil, Iceland and the United States.

Many Lithuanian households struggle to afford good-quality housing. The housing stock is dominated by owner-occupied, multi-apartment buildings that are energy inefficient and face persistent quality gaps. While average household spending on housing is relatively low, house prices have been rising, and many households cannot afford to move to higher quality homes that better suit their needs. Lithuanian policy makers have stepped up support for housing in recent years, but more actions are needed. This report presents the main features of the Lithuanian housing market, highlights housing challenges that have been amplified by the current economic and geopolitical crises, and assesses current policies to address housing affordability and quality gaps. It proposes a series of recommendations to strengthen the supply of and access to affordable housing, and to support Lithuania’s commitment to make housing policy a priority.

¿Qué retos y oportunidades presenta la transición verde para América Latina y el Caribe? Esta 15ª edición de Perspectivas económicas de América Latina explora las opciones de política que la región tiene para repensar sus modelos productivos, transformar su matriz energética y crear empleos de calidad en el proceso. El informe señala que para que esta transición sea justa, se necesitan mejores sistemas de protección social y un diálogo abierto que ayude a construir nuevos contratos sociales sostenibles. Para impulsar esta ambiciosa agenda, el informe presenta distintas herramientas de financiación, incluidas las finanzas verdes, y aboga por la renovación de las alianzas internacionales.

Accelerating the transition to net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is urgently required to contain the risks of climate change. As countries seek to reduce GHG emissions, they can employ or reform a wide range of policy instruments. This report tracks how explicit carbon prices, energy taxes and subsidies have evolved between 2018 and 2021. This is an important subset of the policy instruments available to governments. All instruments considered in this report either directly change the cost of emitting GHG or change electricity prices. Reforming these instruments could help to meet climate targets, lead to cleaner air and water, and improve public finances. The report covers 71 countries, which together account for approximately 80% of global GHG emissions and energy use. Explicit carbon prices, as well as energy taxes and subsidies are detailed by country, sector, product and instrument. The use of a common methodology ensures comparability across countries. Summary indicators facilitate cross-country comparisons and allow policy makers and the public to keep track of progress made and identify opportunities for reform.

This report examines the commercial availability and current uses of PFASs and non-PFAS alternatives in coatings, paints and varnishes (CPVs). From the wide range of applications that comprise the CPV sector, three applications have been examined more closely: coatings for cables and wiring, the front and backsheets of solar panels and household and architectural paints. The report suggests a number of policy recommendations and areas that may be considered for further work. These have been divided into those aimed at international organisations/national governments and those aimed at industry.

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is a quality system concerned with the organisational process and the conditions under which studies are planned, performed, monitored, recorded, archived and reported. The GLP Principles do not explicitly require procedures for continuous improvement outside of addressing formal inspection results. However, mechanisms for continual improvement are complementary to the GLP requirements and support that test facilities operate in a manner that assures the quality and validity of the studies conducted. This position paper provides an overview of available quality improvement tools that might be considered for GLP and their role and operation when used in test facilities.

Combatting climate change is among the most critical issues on the global policy agenda. The transition towards a greener economy will require a pivot towards more sustainable production processes and consumption patterns. Entrepreneurs have the potential to be a major driving force behind this effort through their capacity to develop and propagate innovative green solutions. To unlock this potential, it is crucial for policy makers to implement appropriate policies and measures that enable green entrepreneurs to thrive. This report identifies lessons from international policy practices in stimulating and supporting green entrepreneurship from three case study countries – Canada, Germany and Israel – to inform Denmark about effective policy practices and pitfalls to avoid as it implements initiatives to strengthen its green transition. Recommendations are offered across a number of areas such as promoting greater co-ordination between relevant policy actors, strengthening specialised support for green entrepreneurs and building green markets.

This report comes as a supplement to the report on “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).and alternatives in food packaging (paper and paperboard): Commercial availability and current uses” that summarised the commercial availability and current uses of short-chain PFAS and non-fluorinated alternatives in paper and paperboard food packaging. This report aims to complement the 2020 report by compiling information on the hazard profile of the alternatives identified in terms of hazard classifications from authorities and industry and available assessments from authorities on persistence, bioaccumulation, environmental and health hazards.

The purpose of Performance Standards (PS) is to provide a basis by which proposed similar or modified test methods, both proprietary (i.e., copyrighted, trademarked, or registered) and non-proprietary, can be deemed to be structurally and mechanistically similar to a Validated Reference Method (VRM) as well as can be shown to be scientifically valid, with sufficient reliability and relevance for the specific testing purposes. This document contains the Performance Standards (PS) for determining the reliability and relevance of similar and modified test methods for ocular hazard that are structurally and mechanistically similar to the in vitro macromolecular test method described in TG 496 and the DB-ALM protocol n. 157, in accordance with the principles of Guidance Document No. 34.

This report presents a comprehensive assessment of the policy instruments adopted by the Netherlands to reach carbon neutrality in its manufacturing sector by 2050. The analysis illustrates the strength of combining a strong commitment to raising carbon prices with ambitious technology support, uncovers the pervasiveness of competitiveness provisions, and highlights the trade-off between short-term emissions cuts and longer-term technology shift. The Netherlands’ carbon levy sets an ambitious price trajectory to 2030, but is tempered by extensive preferential treatment to energy-intensive users, yielding a highly unequal carbon price across firms and sectors. The country’s technology support focuses on the cost-effective deployment of low-carbon options, which ensures least-cost decarbonisation in the short run but favours relatively mature technologies. The report offers recommendations for policy adjustments to reach the country’s carbon neutrality objective, including the gradual removal of exemptions, enhanced support for emerging technologies and greater visibility over future infrastructure plans.

Acest raport abordează principalele rezultate ale unui proiect privind modul în care un flux de fonduri ar putea stimula evoluția spre un transport public mai curat și de a reduce poluarea aerului și a emisiilor de gaze cu efect de seră (GES) în centrele urbane mari în Moldova, oferind o analiză pentru proiectarea unui program de investiții publice ”verzi” în sectorul dat. Acest sector reprezintă, pentru Moldova, o oportunitate de a aborda obiectivele cheie în politicile sale de mediu și climă, ca parte a ambițiilor țării de a trece la o cale de dezvoltare economică ecologică. Programul de investiții este, de asemenea, conceput pentru a sprijini modernizarea flotei de transport urban din țară și pentru a stimula piața internă să se orienteze către autobuze moderne alimentate cu combustibili curați. Programul este prevăzut a fi implementat în două etape: prima- vizează orașele Chișinău și Bălți, iar a doua se extinde în zone din afara centrelor pilot inițiale (suburbiile orașelor pilot, precum și transportul interurban). Se preconizează că aceste investiții vor avea ca efect beneficii semnificative pentru mediu, servicii publice și socio-economice.

The purpose of Performance Standards (PS) is to provide a basis by which proposed similar or modified test methods, both proprietary (i.e., copyrighted, trademarked, or registered) and non-proprietary, can be deemed to be structurally and mechanistically similar to a Validated Reference Method (VRM) as well as can be shown to be scientifically valid, with sufficient reliability and relevance for the specific testing purposes. This document describes the Performance Standards (PS) for the assessment of proposed similar or modified methods to the Vitrigel Eye Irritancy Test Method included in TG 494.