Press Release: European Union approves new alternatives to animal testing of drugs and chemicals

The Scientific Advisory Committee of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) approved on 21 March 2006 six new alternative testing methods that will reduce the need for certain drugs and chemicals to be tested on animals. The new tests use cell cultures rather than animals to establish the toxicity of cancer drugs and identify contaminated drugs. The new tests will not only reduce the number of animals needed for testing, but will also increase the accuracy of the tests, thereby making the products concerned safer.