The European Coalition to End Animal Testing (ECEAE), of which the BUAV is the UK member, has just submitted comments on proposals to test two chemical substances on animals.

The ECEAE has campaigned tirelessly against the use of animal testing under REACH (http://www.buav.org/campaigns/reach) and has recruited two scientific experts to advise on the testing proposals as they are submitted by companies.

The two chemicals in question are already commonly used in a large variety of household cleaning products, and also in human foodstuffs and animal feeds. Nevertheless the registrants are proposing to carry out tests on rats and rabbits for subchronic inhalation toxicity and developmental toxicity.  This means up to 120 rats may be forced to breathe the product for 90 days and then be killed. The developmental toxicity test will involve pregnant female rabbits force-fed the chemical and then killed along with their unborn babies. This means that over 1000 rabbits will be killed even though the same test has already been done on rats.

The BUAV is appalled that animals should be made to suffer and die in tests for household cleaning products. The ECEAE has submitted relevant scientific reviews and published data supporting our position that these tests should not be allowed to take place.

The impact of our comments will not be known for several months while ECHA reaches its decision. However, the ECEAE will be following this process closely and respond to other animal testing proposals as they are submitted in our effort to stop animals suffering under this appalling legislation.

2nd June 2010