New methodologies: Working towards regulatory use The OECD promotes the regulatory use of new instruments for gathering information on the safety of chemicals and for making best use of scientific advances in chemicals management. With these tools, it becomes possible to obtain more safety information and maintain quality while reducing costs, time and animal testing.
Non-animal testing The OECD is committed to reducing or avoiding animal suffering and limiting the number of test animals used. Many of the current OECD Test Guidelines are based on tests conducted on animals, with clear guidance to minimise pain and suffering in the animals during testing. The OECD is actively working towards the development of methods to replace animal tests where possible, or to refine existing tests to reduce the number of animals used and minimise suffering.
A number of OECD Test Guidelines are already based on non-animal tests, including but not limited to skin corrosion, phototoxicity and skin absorption, serious eye damage, skin sensitisation, genotoxicity and endocrine disruption. As new tests which meet the regulatory safety requirements of the OECD member countries are developed and validated, the range of non-animal Test Guidelines available will increase. There is an on-going effort to combine alternative test methods for a same endpoint and provide guidance for their rational use. A long-term goal is to reach agreement among countries on defined replacement methods to avoid or strongly reduce animal testing. Key link:
www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/tes�ng/animal-welfare
22 . OECD WORK ON CHEMICAL SAFETY AND BIOSAFETY
