The Long-range Research Initiative (LRI)

Cefic’s Long-range Research Initiative (LRI) serves to increase the understanding of the potential impact of chemicals on human health and the environment. The task of LRI is to reduce the uncertainty raised by innovation and to strengthen science-based decision-making. The focus is on gaps in the industry's knowledge and understanding that are critical for risk assessment. The broad aim is a validated infrastructure of scientific advice on which the entire industry and regulatory bodies draw to respond more quickly and accurately to the public's questions.

LRI sponsors research to help address some of the priorities of the European public health strategy:

• Improving risk assessment of chemicals; and more specifically monitoring effects of chemicals on health; 
• Understanding the environmental factors in human health; 
• Establishing endocrine disruption references; and 
• Coordinating research, data and activities at a European level.

LRI also addresses many of the environmental objectives of the EU, including:

• Linking environmental factors to health effects; 
• Understanding and reducing chemical risks to environment; and 
• Improving animal testing in risk assessment.