Progress in Toxicological Testing: Reduction and Refinement Issues Recommendations from a Joint UK Government/ECVAM Meeting

Kim Tichias, Julia Fentem, David Basketter, Philip Botham, Paul Brooker, Leon Bruner, Peter Evans, Steve Fairhurst, Elisabeth Fassold, Robin Fielder, Frank Gerberick, Paul Harvey, Herman Koëter, Paul Parsons, Eva Schlede, David Shannon and Horst Spielmann

This is the report of a meeting organised jointly by the UK Government and the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), a unit of the European Commission (EC) Joint Research Centre, based at Ispra, Italy. The meeting, on Progress in Toxicological Testing, was held in London, UK, on 12–13 May 1998, to coincide with the UK Presidency of the European Union (EU). The principal aim was to reach agreement on ways to further reduce and refine the use of animals in the toxicity testing of chemicals and pesticides within the current regulatory framework, without compromising human safety. The meeting was organised to promote discussion on the use of animals in toxicological testing, and to define the number of specific and realistic recommendations which could feasibly be achieved within a relatively short time-scale, via the appropriate European and/or international authorities.