European scientific agreement on validation of animal testing alternatives

Global efforts to promote alternatives to testing on animals received a significant boost through the signing of a cooperation agreement by  international bodies, including the European Commission's Joint  Research Center tasked with the validation of different test methods.

The accord, which should give new impetus to the worldwide availability  of scientifically-proven alternatives to animal test methods, has been  signed by the European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods,  which is part of the Commission's Joint Research Center, together with  its equivalent in the USA (ICCVAM), Japan (JACVAM) and Canada's  Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau.

European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik emphasized  the positive impacts of scientific international cooperation, saying:  "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. I expect that European, American,  Japanese and Canadian scientists working together will more rapidly  identify scientifically-sound alternative testing methods."