Thousands of animals saved by Euro law change

22-02-2012
European Institutions have agreed to slash biocide animal testing requirements by as much as 40 percent, including deleting the notorious year-long dog-poisoning study.

STRASBOURG, France—Humane Society International/Europe is celebrating a change in European law on biocides, non-food pesticides, that will save tens of thousands of dogs, rabbits and rodents from painful and lethal chemical poisoning tests.

Currently, as many as 6,000 animals may be killed to test a single new biocide chemical for products such as insect-repellant and anti-bacterial agents. Now, thanks to two years of dedicated lobbying led by HSI Europe, European Institutions have agreed to slash biocide animal testing requirements by as much as 40 percent, including deleting the notorious year-long dog-poisoning study.

Troy Seidle, director of research & toxicology for Humane Society International/Europe, said: “We’ve achieved an unprecedented transition away from tick-box animal testing in favour of modern and more efficient approaches to safety assessment through Europe’s incoming biocides regulation. EU politicians are to be commended for their support for safety science that is more humane and fit for the twenty-first century.”

http://www.hsi.org/world/europe/news/releases/2012/01/europe_biocides_011912.html