Dr Katy Taylor, BUAV’s Scientific Coordinator, is today meeting with Geret Dancet, the head of the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), and his chief advisors about animal testing under the new EU REACH legislation. Along with colleagues from animal protection groups from the USA, the BUAV will be raising concerns about the lack of the proactive promotion of alternative methods.

The REACH legislation, designed to ensure the safety of thousands of chemicals in our environment, mandates that animal testing should be a “last resort” and that alternative methods should be used and promoted. However, the BUAV believes not enough is being done by the Agency responsible to limit animal testing and will be calling for more activity on this area.

It is now estimated that 75,000 chemicals may have to undergo new animal testing under the legislation, which result in the deaths of between 16-54 million animals over the next ten years.