International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Alternative method validation organizations from U.S., EU and Japan, together with Health Canada, adopt framework for International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods, announces European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). Initiative is product of September 2007 meeting of the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation, which covered a range of issues including nanotechnology and good manufacturing practices (1"The Rose Sheet" Oct. 15, 2007, p. 4). ICCR also "recognized the importance of replacing, reducing and refining (less pain and distress) animal testing." Framework allows participating organizations to coordinate in designing validation studies, conducting scientific peer reviews and finally developing harmonized recommendations, according to ECVAM, which is joined by U.S. counterpart - the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) - as well as the Japanese Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods and a Canadian government rep. Under adopted schema, one validation organization will act as lead, drafting recommendations based on liaisons with others; if all parties are in agreement, they will finalize and forward recommendation to their respective regulatory authorities