In response to questions raised by BUAV’s Dr Katy Taylor representing the ECEAE , the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has confirmed that it will be assessing the use of alternatives under compliance checks for REACH.

Under Articles 13 and 25 of REACH, chemical companies are supposed to only commission animal testing as a last resort and instead to use alternative methods wherever possible.

The ECEAE was concerned that there appeared to be no mechanism for ensuring that chemical companies complied with these rules and this week submitted a paper on the issue to the ECHA Forum which discussed enforcement issues.

At this meeting and subsequently at the ECHA’s 4th stakeholder event, it was confirmed that ECHA would look at whether companies had done all they could to avoid animal testing in fulfilling the requirements of REACH. If ECHA finds that companies have breached Articles 13 or 25 it will issue a ‘quality observation letter’ to the member state. It will then be up to the member state to issue the company with a penalty.

Dr Katy Taylor, BUAV‘s Scientific Co-ordinator states; “We are pleased that ECHA has clarified its position and will be looking at the important issue of animal testing when assessing the REACH registrations. It remains important that ECHA sends this strong message to companies and that member states subsequently enforce it.  There also needs to be a consistent approach throughout Europe. For example in the UK there is not yet any formal mechanism built into the legislation to cover this whereas in Germany there is.”

21st May 2010