ALTEX :: Alternatives to Animal Experiments

1999, VOLUME 3

ZEBET and the Cosmetic Industry: a Decade of National and International Co-operations

Wolfgang J. W. Pape

Beiersdorff AG, D-Hamburg

SUMMARY

An overview is given on the co-operation between ZEBET and the cosmetic industry both in Germany (IKW) and Europe (COLIPA). The co-operation began in 1988 in the German "BGA-Studie" on alternatives to the Draize rabbit eye irritation test and was continued in the European validation study on alternatives to the Draize eye test, the EC/HO-Study. Other joint validation activities are briefly reviewed. Finally, results of the successful EU/COLIPA validation study on in vitro photoirritation test are presented, which lead to the validated 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test (3T3 NRU PT), which was accepted for regulatory purposes in 1997/1998 both by EU experts (ESAC) and regulatory authorities (DG III, IX, and XXIV).

Keywords: 3R, cosmetic industry, validation process, co-operation with ZEBET