Bayer recently announced that it has launched a new website that focuses on transparency by enabling access to scientific data needed for the evaluation of plant protection products. In launching the website, https://cropscience-transparency.bayer.com, Bayer said it is taking a leadership role in driving transparency while safeguarding the company’s confidential product composition and manufacturing process data.

In addition to summary reports of safety-related studies for a significant number of active substances, Bayer will start to enable non-commercial access to the respective safety-related study reports, commencing with reports on imidacloprid. Background material such as videos and infographics are provided to help put regulatory science into context. In this way, Bayer wants to foster an open and transparent dialog.

“As conflicting accounts about the safety of food or technologies are making it difficult for people to separate fact from fiction, this Bayer initiative is an important step towards increased transparency,” said Dr. Adrian Percy, global head of research and development for the Crop Science division. “By sharing safety data, which was previously only shared with authorities, we hope to connect the public with our scientific community in a way that builds trust and shows our desire to further create transparency.”

Percy said the company is excited to launch the new website, which also aims “to support authorities around the globe by providing an alternative tool -- other than filing Freedom of Information (Act) requests -- for them to obtain the documents that underlie our registration procedures.”

He added, “We want non-commercial interested parties – from a concerned citizen to a member of the scientific community – to be able to access safety-relevant information in a way that is quick and easy to understand so that they can base their opinions on scientific data.”

Bayer's new transparency website will be updated on a regular basis. In the next phase, which is planned for early 2018, non-commercial users will be able to request access to additional full, in-depth, safety-related study reports. Furthermore, Bayer plans to add other language options to its new website, such as German.