# Commission Regulation (EC) No 761/2009 of 23 July 2009 amending, for the purpose of its adaptation to technical progress, Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 laying down test methods pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (Text with EEA relevance), Division

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

The purpose of the test is to determine the effects of the test substance on the growth of algae. This Testing Method describes two response variables, as member countries have different preferences and regulatory needs. In order for the test results to be acceptable in all member countries, the effects should be evaluated using both response variables (a) and (b) described below.
(a) Average specific growth rate: this response variable is calculated on the basis of the logarithmic increase of biomass during the test period, expressed per day.
(b) Yield: this response variable is the biomass at the end of the test minus the starting biomass.
For the application of this method within the EU regulatory framework, calculation of results should be based on an average specific growth rate for the reasons described below. It should be noted that toxicity values calculated by using these two response variables are not comparable and this difference must be recognised when using the results of the test. ECx values based upon average specific growth rate (ErCx) will generally be higher than results based upon yield (EyCx) if the test conditions of this Testing Method are adhered to, due to the mathematical basis of the respective approaches. This should not be interpreted as a difference in sensitivity between the two response variables, simply that the values are different mathematically. The concept of average specific growth rate is based on the general exponential growth pattern of algae in non-limited cultures, where toxicity is estimated on the basis of the effects on the growth rate, without being dependent on the absolute level of the specific growth rate of the control, on the slope of the concentration-response curve or on test duration. In contrast, results based upon the yield response variable are dependent upon all these other variables. EyCx is dependent on the specific growth rate of the algal species used in each test and on the maximum specific growth rate that can vary between species and even different algal strains. This response variable should not be used for comparing the sensitivity to toxicants among algal species or even different strains. While the use of average specific growth rate for estimating toxicity is scientifically preferred, toxicity estimates based on yield are also included in this Testing Method so as to satisfy current regulatory requirements in some countries.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2009/761/annex/IV/division/2/division/2.2/division/1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2009-761/annex-IV/division-2/division-2.2/division-1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.