This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at La CE modifica la normativa sobre químicos para reducir pruebas en animales
EC amends regulations on chemicals to reduce animal testing
31/07/2009
July 31, 2009
The European Commission (EC) has introduced several changes in Community legislation on chemical substances with a view to reducing the number of animals used for testing such products. The amendment, adopted by the EU Executive on 23 July, includes four alternative methods to animal testing and reviews already referred two within Reach, the European regulations for the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals, according to the EC said in a statement. The changes will affect the legislation on cosmetics, detergents, biocides and other products tested on animals.
The new systems, include a 'in vitro' method which will reduce the number of animals used to test the skin irritation causing certain substances, evidence which normally carried out on rabbits. This amendment is first introduced in the European regulation on chemical tests, which was adopted in May 2008, and reflects "the commitment of the EC" to accelerate the availability of alternative test methods, the EC said.
