This conference presents recent advances made in the research, risk assessment and regulatory decision-making activities relating to the carcinogenic effects of environmental chemicals. It serves to update the scientific platform that scientists would need to use to support risk assessment and decisions in chemical contamination situations and chemical regulations in Taiwan. This is important as the presence of chemicals in our environment has led to increased efforts to study the toxicologic properties of individual chemicals and mixtures, assess the health risks, and minimize human exposures through management and regulatory decisions for public health protection. How can Taiwan make the best use of such rich information generated to address its needs? The scientific basis for regulatory decision-making is emphasized by the recent 2016 amendment of the Toxic Substances Control Act in the U.S., first introduced in 1976. One major area of current focus is chemical carcinogens. Scientific knowledge has expanded in the study of the approaches to identify and evaluate potential carcinogenicity, methods to assess carcinogenic risk, exploring key characteristics of carcinogens and hallmarks of cancer, and understanding mode of action and associated human relevance. The scientific elements serve as a basis for existing management and regulatory decisions for some chemicals, which could vary according to different levels of evidence and interpretation. Research continues on mechanisms, chronic low level exposures with consideration of non-monotonic dose-response, and transgenerational carcinogenic effects. The presentations include: the biology of cancer; biomarkers; current issues and advances in experimental and human/epidemiological evidence and mechanisms, with implications for the final outcome on regulatory decisions; and the international efforts such as the WHO/IPCS mode of action/human relevance framework, the IARC approach to identify and organize mechanistic data and the Halifax Project on hallmarks of cancer.