UK Citizens

The European politicians are currently implementing legislation which
will have an impact on our health and the environment. Significant
time and resources are being invested to test thousands of chemicals
which we may come into contact with every day. It is necessary to
ensure this policy supports our best interests.

The New European Chemical Testing Policy REACH (Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of CHemicals) came fully into
effect on 1 June 2008 when the first stage of pre-registration of
chemicals began. The European Chemicals Agency, based in Helsinki, is
responsible for managing the registration process. REACH is the
world’s largest chemical testing programme expected to test thousands
of chemicals on millions of animals over the next 11 years. Before
1981 chemicals were put on the market in Europe without being tested
by legal requirement. REACH aims to correct this by evaluating the
risk of about 30,000 chemical substances used in amounts of over 1
tonne a year but still relies heavily on animal testing. This is
unacceptable considering the advances that have been made in new
technology in recent years.

The European Commission has estimated that Reach will cost industry
between 2.8bn and 5.2bn euros. This will be an inefficient use of
resources if reliance is on outdated animal testing instead of making
the most of new technological advances. The criteria required to
validate alternatives are strict and comprehensive. Validated
alternatives are legally trusted as suitable replacements for animal
tests. However, the European Commission's list of approved methods
does not include non-animal techniques that were approved for
scientific validity in 2007 by the European Centre for the Validation
of Alternative Methods ( ECVAM ). This is a delay which has been
criticised by the MEPs of the European parliament  because it will
encourage companies to avoid using validated alternatives based on
human biology and continue using animal tests instead. ECVAM does
important work but if they are to achieve what we all want - a
comprehensive system of scientific tests to accurately find and
eliminate the most toxic chemicals from the environment - their
efforts must be supported and acknowledged.

What can be done?

It is in all our interest to insist that the chemicals we use are
tested as thoroughly as possible with the latest technology available.
Alternatives exist which still await validation and research for more
is promising but lacks investment.  REACH must make sure that all
chemicals are tested with accurate and trustworthy methods and new
techniques must be developed if only animal testing is available.
Companies in each country of Europe required to satisfy the REACH
regulations need to submit safety data on the chemicals they use.
Concerned citizens can contact their MEPs and ask them to support at
every opportunity the validation and approval of alternative methods
for all future testing of chemicals.

More information from
http://www.europarl.europa.eu

Latest Home Office figures tell that 3.2 million animal experiments
were carried out in the UK in 2007, the highest total since 1991. This
follows a trend of increased animal experimentation over the past 6
years. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 controls the use
of animals in scientific procedures in the UK. It is obvious that the
3Rs principles to reduce, refine and replace animals in experiments
needs more resources than currently provided. Chemicals are not being
tested using the latest technology based on human biology. Early Day
Motion 321 calls on the British government to further recognise the
importance of 3Rs research and provide more funding.

To read EDM 321 or see who has signed at
http://edmi.parliament.uk

To see the latest statistics
http://www.naturewatch.org/campaigns/anex/Briefings/HOstats07.pdf

Sincerely

Tony G.