Prioritization of application of alternatives for acute fish toxicity testing
Regulatory agencies use data from the in vivo fish acute toxicity test to assess potential risk of substances to aquatic vertebrates. The ICCVAM Ecotoxicology Workgroup is preparing a review, to be submitted for publication in 2024, to help guide prioritizing development and application of alternatives to the fish acute toxicity test, focusing on regulatory use of fish acute toxicity data and alternatives. The Ecotoxicology Workgroup asked each agency:
- What does your agency do with acute fish toxicity data?
- What is your flexibility to use new approach methodologies (NAMs)?
- What should the data submitter know about your agency’s process?
- Are there legal or regulatory impediments to the adoption of NAMs? For example, are live animal data specifically called for in your agency’s regulations?
Responses were included in the draft manuscript, which will also address performance of two alternative test methods described in OECD test guidelines, the fish embryo acute toxicity test and the RTgill-W1 cell line assay.