The Soil Advisory Group’s main objectives are to promote soil ecotoxicology and to create a network of experts in this field. The network includes nearly 200 members. The activities of the advisory group are coordinated by a steering committee.

Soil Advisory Group Steering Committee

• Els Smit (chair), the Netherlands
• Monica Amorim, Portugal
• Kristin Becker van Slooten, Switzerland
• Fred Heimbach, Germany
• Jörg Römbke, Germany

The activities of the Soil Advisory Group in 2006 focussed on promoting contributions on soil sciences to the 2006 Annual Meeting. Although the visibility of the topic was not high in terms of session titles, the number of individual contributions on the subject was high, and the Annual Meeting is considered a successful platform for soil scientists to exchange views and opinions on the topic. Other issues taken up by the Soil Advisory Group include the development of test guidelines and regulatory affairs.

Although it was established only recently, the Soil Advisory Group is preparing to take on the role of providing official advice and statements on soil matters and is making an inventory of its member’s expertise.