ALTEX :: Alternatives to Animal Experiments

1999, VOLUME 3

ECVAM and the Promotion of International Cooperation in the Development, Validation and Acceptance of Replacement Alternative Tests

Michael Balls

ECVAM, Institute for Health & Consumer Protection, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, I-Ispra

SUMMARY

The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) was established by the European Commission in 1991, to co-ordinate the validation of alternative methods at the European Union level, to establish a database on alternative methods, and to promote dialogue among all the interested parties, in order to secure the international recognition and acceptance of validated alternative test methods.

All ECVAM's activities, including workshops, task forces, in-house laboratory studies, and contracted external pre-validation and validation studies, involve international co-operation.

Of particular importance has been the role played by ECVAM, notably in partnership with ZEBET in establishing the principles of test development, validation and acceptance, defining the practical procedures necessary to optimise the progress of new tests toward acceptance, and in successfully validating the 3T3 NRU PT test for phototoxic potential.

It will be concluded that it is vital that international co-operation goes beyond mere discussion and leads to definite collaborative projects, which lead, in turn, to genuine achievements.

Keywords: alternatives, 3R, replacement, ECVAM, ZEBET, international co-operation, prevalidation, toxicity testing, validation