Adoption Of Alt Testing Methods Should Pick Up Under Cooperation Memo
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Agencies from the U.S., EU, Canada and Japan have signed a memorandum of cooperation to accelerate the process by which non-animal testing methods are validated and implemented across the globe
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Global animal testing alternatives
The 30-member Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has officially adopted two ICCVAM-recommended non-animal, ocular toxicity testing methods as Health Effects Test Guidelines, the Interagency Center on the Validation of Alternative Methods reports Sept. 10. Rather than using animals, the bovine corneal opacity and permeability and isolated chicken eye methods now can be used internationally to identify substances that may cause irritation or damage to eyes. OECD's adoption of the strategies was "fastest ever" due largely to ICCVAM's "comprehensive" evaluation and the involvement of validation organizations in Europe and Japan, as encouraged by memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year to promote global harmonization (1"The Rose Sheet" May 4, 2009). U.S. federal agencies accepted the test methods, per ICCVAM's recommendation, in 2008 (2"The Rose Sheet" June 30, 2008). The test guidelines' final versions will be published in late October on the NICEATM/ICCVAM Web site
Global animal testing alternatives
The 30-member Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has officially adopted two ICCVAM-recommended non-animal, ocular toxicity testing methods as Health Effects Test Guidelines, the Interagency Center on the Validation of Alternative Methods reports Sept. 10. Rather than using animals, the bovine corneal opacity and permeability and isolated chicken eye methods now can be used internationally to identify substances that may cause irritation or damage to eyes. OECD's adoption of the strategies was "fastest ever" due largely to ICCVAM's "comprehensive" evaluation and the involvement of validation organizations in Europe and Japan, as encouraged by memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year to promote global harmonization (1"The Rose Sheet" May 4, 2009). U.S. federal agencies accepted the test methods, per ICCVAM's recommendation, in 2008 (2"The Rose Sheet" June 30, 2008). The test guidelines' final versions will be published in late October on the NICEATM/ICCVAM Web site