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HSI applauds EU Commission regulation sparing possibly millions of animals from reproductive toxicity tests but underlines ‘unnecessary delay’

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HSIHumane Society International welcomes the publication of Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/282 of 20 February 2015 amending REACH testing requirements to replace the out-dated two-generation rat reproduction test with an extended one-generation study (EOGRTS) design, modernizing a critical regulatory data requirement while also sparing potentially millions of animals from being bred and killed.

However, it is unacceptable that it has taken nearly three years for the REACH data requirement to finally be amended, and future amendments must be implemented swiftly and decisively to further modernise REACH requirements and spare even more animals unnecessary pain and suffering. HSI first proposed the EOGRTS change back in April 2012 as part of a comprehensive package of REACH revisions.

Emily McIvor, HSI policy director for research & toxicology, said: "We are delighted that the EOGRTS has been accepted into EU chemicals law, and hope that this marks the beginning of the end of what has been a frustratingly long process to get REACH up to date with current science. When HSI first proposed amendments to REACH Annexes VII to X in 2012, our ideas were largely ignored or rejected. So whilst we are very glad to see our amendments being taken up at last, it is deeply regrettable that it took so long to demonstrate what we’ve said throughout - that amending the REACH data requirements is possible and desirable.

“Swiftly replacing more REACH animal test requirements with methods that use fewer animals or, ideally, no animals at all, while providing equivalent or better human health protection, must now become the norm rather than the exception. HSI’s dossier of revisions could save millions more animals, so we are eager to see these implemented as soon as possible and without the unacceptable delays we’ve witnessed so far. For example, REACH requirements on skin sensitisation and acute oral toxicity are now well out of step with the available alternative methods, so updating them is ethically and scientifically imperative. These revisions must be made in the coming months to allow companies to plan their 2018 registrations. Getting this right will ensure that the REACH requirement to test on animals only as a last resort is finally met, and that costs for SMEs are reduced."

Although the EOGRTS still uses animals and is not therefore a replacement method, it can spare the lives of 1,200 animals in every test which, when applied across hundreds of chemicals tested under REACH, means a massive saving of animals who otherwise would have endured painful toxic poisoning.

The new regulation is available online here 

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