New tests to cut use of EU lab animals

REVOLUTIONARY new methods of testing chemicals for their safety will dramatically reduce the use of animals and cut the cost of Europe’s new chemicals plan.

At present, most chemicals in everyday use, from hair dyes to paints, are untested for their safety on humans even though they contain cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting agents.

The testing demanded by the new policy will cost Europe's chemical industry one of the largest in the world about €2.3 billion over 11 years and involve at least three million animals and fish.

Experts from around the world gathered at the EU's Joint Research Centre near Milan yesterday for the unveiling of an EU programme to develop new testing methods that will save the industry almost €1 billion.

Director General of the centre, Barry McSweeney, said they believe new methods will halve the number of animals and fish used. Fish account for about two-thirds of living beings used in toxic testing.

One of the new methods will be a computer-based system, QSARS, which is already well developed and uses information already known about the action of certain chemical compounds. Others will involve working in laboratories on cell cultures.

Mr McSweeney said that the results from new methods of testing are often better than that achieved from animal testing, and will help protect people, the environment and save animals.

Developing the new tests will be a priority for the Commission's research area over the next few years. A series of scientific networks are being established and already involve a number of Irish institutions.

The work will be carried out and coordinated by the Joint Research Centre, which is Europe's biggest research centre with 2,200 employees linked into 2,500 research groups, including several in Ireland.

"This will create excellent work opportunities for Europe's scientists and help put Europe's chemical industry far ahead of the competition by ensuring safe and quality products," said Mr McSweeney.

Called REACH, the new regulations will be a boost to an industry currently labouring under over 40 directives. This has helped stifle development of new and better chemical products and left the industry trailing that in the US and Japan, he said.