Improving international co-operation between national organisations promoting the 3Rs

Co-operations between national centres on alternatives to animal experiment s have two main advantages. The activity of a national centre will be place d in a broader perspective and the activities might be more effective due t o the combined forces. Significant obstacles to come to co-operation are th e lack of co-ordination and available finances. The formation of a European Consensus Platform (ECOPA), in which representatives of national Platforms participate, may overcome these obstacles.