The BUAV's Scientific Coordinator, Dr Katy Taylor, is this week attending the 10th Risk Assessment Committee meeting in Helsinki. The Committee is organised by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the agency responsible for REACH. The BUAV, representing the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) is a registered stakeholder and is subsidised to attend the meetings as an observer.

At this meeting animal testing for important chemicals is being discussed. The Committee decides whether chemicals in question need to be labelled as harmful or even restricted based on the findings of the animal tests specified under REACH. Worryingly, the Committee has the power to ask for more animal tests if- as often happens- the original animal tests prove to be 'inconclusive.' For example, industry may be asked to conduct more reproductive toxicity tests on other species if it cannot be proven that a chemical is not harmful based on the tests that have already been done. Given the inherent unreliability of animal tests, there is a real danger that more animal tests will be requested, depending on the substance.

It is,therefore, important that the BUAV attends these meetings so that we are aware of what animal tests are being proposed and can challenge wherever possible.

17th March 2010