92001E3684

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3684/01

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 January 2002)

Subject: Animal testing

Is the Commission taking steps to introduce new non-animal tests into Annex V of the Dangerous Substances Directive in preparation for implementation of the chemicals policy?

What steps are being taken to ensure that the current process of validation and acceptance of new non-animal tests is speeded up so that existing animal tests can be replaced in time for implementation of the chemicals policy?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2002)

The Commission supports the development and validation of non-animal tests, in particular through the work of the European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), a part of the Joint Research Centre. Once such methods have been validated, they are then included into Annex V of Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances(1). This effort will continue both during the preparation of the new chemicals legislation and after it comes into force. Work is also continuing on the revision of existing animal test methods in Annex V to reduce, where possible, the number of animals used.

The progress on the validation of new non-animal test methods is under review, in order to establish which methods will be available on the timescales referred to in the White Paper on a Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy(2).

(1) OJ P 196, 16.8.1967.

(2) COM(2001) 88 final.