NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods
NICEATM supports EPA meeting on plan for alternative testing methods
The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act amended Section 4(h) of the Toxic Substances Control Act to require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a strategic plan that promotes the development and implementation of alternative test methods and strategies to reduce, refine or replace vertebrate animal testing. At a November 2 meeting co-organized by NICEATM, the EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics received public input on the strategic plan.
Representatives from a variety of industry and nongovernmental stakeholders, as well as groups from Europe and Canada engaged in similar activities, were among the attendees. The event was well attended with approximately 50 people present in person and over 150 watching the plenary sessions via webcast. In-person attendees participated in breakout groups that discussed specific charge questions. The results of those discussions were summarized in plenary presentations.
Links to the videocast and meeting materials are available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/tsca-2017. EPA is accepting input from interested parties on the draft strategic plan through January 3, 2018; written comments should be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0559 at www.regulations.gov. The final strategic plan will be published in June 2018.
NICEATM scientist joins international expert groups on toxicity testing
David Allen, Ph.D., principal investigator on the NICEATM support contract with ILS, participated as an expert at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meetings on skin and eye irritation and skin sensitization that were convened November 7-10 in Paris, France.
The meetings focused on discussions of new and revised test guidelines currently under consideration by OECD. The specific guidelines are for non-animal testing methods and approaches intended to reduce or replace animal use. OECD test guidelines represent internationally agreed-upon testing methods that can be used by government, industry, and independent laboratories in the 35 OECD member countries to determine the safety of chemicals and chemical preparations. Revisions to the guidelines based on the expert groups’ recommendations will be circulated to OECD member countries for comment, and ultimately considered for approval and formal adoption by the OECD Working Group of National Coordinators.