Partnership proposes animal testing curbs

Image courtesy NIEHS

This is based on the “3-Rs” concept of refining, reducing and replacing animals while still meeting regulatory safety requirements. The partnership between the Commission, industry associations and companies in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, crop protection and cosmetics sectors was set up a year ago.

At the same time, the Commission published guidelines for labelling cosmetic products as “not tested on animals”. The aim is to ensure that labels do not mislead consumers or lead to unfair competition.

Gunter Verheugen, commissioner for enterprise and industry policy, said, “We are now moving from words to deeds. I invite more companies to join our common efforts to reduce the number of animals used in safety testing in areas such as REACH and cosmetics.”

Animal rights

Public opinion surveys show animal rights are close to the hearts of Europeans, added Janez Potocnik, commissioner for science and research. “Through research we can develop ways of offering consumers a greater choice of products that have not been tested on animals. We will continue to support research, development and evaluation of alternative testing methods.”

The action programme covers five areas: mapping past and current 3R objectives to inform future research; prioritise further research; disseminate and implement best practice; apply 3Rs in the regulatory framework and other decision making; and validate and approve alternative test methods based on 3Rs.

Roughly 20 per cent of tests carried out on animals in Europe can be categorised as regulatory testing. They are performed in sectors including pharmaceuticals, chemicals and cosmetics, as well as food and feedstock production.

The challenge is to develop alternatives that provide at least an equivalent level of consumer safety.

At present the regulatory requirements for safety testing differ for one sector to another. In 2003 cosmetics tested on animals were banned if alternatives were available. From 2009 cosmetics will be banned from European markets if they are based on animal testing, even if alternative non-animal tests are not available.

Similarly, the REACH regulations for approving chemicals include specific provisions to reduce the number of animal tests.

According to the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, switching to alternative testing methods would save between 1.3 million and 1.9 million animals each year and reduce costs by between €800 million and €1.13 billion.