In the news
11 Mar 2010
30 April 2009
Global agreement on alternatives
Agencies across Europe, Japan, the United States of America and Canada have signed an agreement of co-operation to improve the availability of non-animal test methods. The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), together with its equivalent in the US1 (ICCVAM), Japan2 (JACVAM) and Canada’s Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau have come together to enhance international cooperation and coordination on the scientific validation and evaluation of non-animal tests3.
European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, said: “Reducing animal testing, both out of concern for animal welfare and ethical issues, and protecting consumer safety are two major objectives of this international agreement.” He added, “I expect that European, American, Japanese and Canadian scientists working together will more rapidly identify, scientifically sound alternative testing methods”.
The reinforced collaboration among the signatories will formalise the way they already work together in test method evaluation, validation studies, independent scientific peer review and recommendations from regulatory authorities. It should also speed up the adoption of alternative test methods globally.
“Unnecessary delays and conflicting requirements between countries can add years to the amount of time it takes for new non-animal tests to replace animals.” says Emily McIvor, Dr Hadwen Trust’s Policy Director. “We welcome this new agreement as a significant step towards tackling that problem. However, we would also like to see similar efforts to ensure that finding new methods to replace animals in basic medical research is also a global priority, and once developed, that they are brought into widespread use as quickly as possible.”
One key proposal being discussed that could have a major impact on progress is the establishment of a new European Centre of Excellence for Alternatives, as well as national centres in all member states.
Whilst much progress has been made replacing outdated animal tests for regulatory toxicology, such tests constitute a mere ten per cent of EU animal experiments. The majority of animals are used in biomedical research, an area of replacement potential that Europe has almost entirely neglected for decades. The Dr Hadwen Trust is currently campaigning for the creation of a European Centre of Excellence in Alternatives through the revision of the EU’s animal experiments law, Directive 86/609. Find out more at www.makeanimaltestinghistory.org
Notes:
1 ICCVAM is the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods
2 JACVAM is the Japanese Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods, hosted by the National Institute of Health Sciences, part of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Education and Welfare
3 The agreement is available at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/docs/about_docs/ICATM-MOC.pdf
Article includes original material from 7th Space.
