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Testing of chemicals

Animal Welfare

 

OECD considers Animal Welfare in the Development of Test Guidelines

Chemical Safety and Animal Welfare Brochure

 

Over 25 years ago, the OECD recognised the need to protect animals in general and in particular those used in experimental work. The Second High Level Meeting of the Chemicals Group addressed this ethical issue and adopted the following statement:

"The welfare of laboratory animals is important; it will continue to be an important factor influencing the work in the OECD Chemicals Programme. The progress in OECD on the harmonisation of chemicals control, in particular the agreement on Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD), by reducing duplicative testing, will do much to reduce the number of animals used in testing. Such testing cannot be eliminated at present, but every effort should be made to discover, develop and validate alternative testing systems".

Mutual Acceptance of Data

The Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) Council Decisions have had a major impact on testing practices. MAD states that data generated in the testing of chemicals in an OECD member country in accordance with OECD Test Guidelines and OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), shall be accepted in other member countries. Adhering non-member countries, of which there are an increasing number, should also accept this data. 

The data should be accepted for purposes of assessment, and other uses relating to the protection of man and the environment. These Council Decisions continue to save thousands of animals every year.

 

Replacement, Reduction and Refinement Principles

The OECD is committed to the implementation of the 3R-principles first laid down by Russel & Burch in 1959 in their publication The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique”.

Since the adoption in 1981 of the first set of Test Guidelines, many of the short-, and long-term toxicity tests, as well as the genetic toxicity tests, have been developed or revised to introduce aspects of the 3R-principles.

The most noteworthy achievement is the deletion of the much criticised Test Guideline 401 on Acute Toxicity Testing, and its replacement with Test Guidelines 420, 423 and 425, introducing reduction and refinement.

The Guidance Document on Recognition, Assessment and Use of Clinical Signs as Humane Endpoints for Experimental Animals Used in Safety Evaluations gives practical guidance on how to apply the 3R-principles, with an emphasis on Refinements when performing OECD Test Guidelines. 

 

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