THE UK ANIMALS (SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES) ACT - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF ALTERNATIVE TOXICITY TESTS

The UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires a project lic ence for all potentially harmful animal tests in regulatory toxicology . Full consideration has to be given to alternatives, to the use of hi erarchical strategies and to adherence to published guidelines. Advice on these matters is available from the Inspectorate. The mechanisms f or developing and implementing policies on hierarchical strategies and alternatives are discussed. The paper notes some of the problems in t he general context of toxicology, and uses as an example the Home Offi ce guidelines on eye irritation tests published in 1987. These areas o f regulatory toxicology tests are being considered currently by the An imal Procedures Committee.