The information that is needed for the risk assessment can be obtained from a number of sources such as scientific literature or conducting laboratory or field experiments. The soundness of this information allows risk assessors to make better informed decisions regarding the potential risk scenarios.

Some risks can be assessed based on existing scientific literature and previously available information alone. Others may require laboratory experiments (e.g. early tier toxicology testing), confined field experiments or other scientific observations. Scientifically sound methodologies should be determined and documented for testing any identified risk scenario. When assessment methods are well described, risk assessors and subsequent reviewers are better equipped to determine whether the information used was adequate and sufficient for characterizing the risk.