Colipa presents animal testing alternatives at WC8
‘Significant progress’ made in developing and evaluating alternative models
The European Cosmetics Association Colipa has presented a range of new alternatives to animal testing at the 8th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences. The congress, also known as WC8, which takes place in Montreal, Canada between 21-25 August 2011, focuses on the ‘three Rs’ – replacement, reduction and refinement – and features presentations from leading experts in alternatives to animal testing.
Horst Wenck, chair of Colipa’s Strategic Project Team on Alternatives, said: “WC8 provides an important meeting place for a range of stakeholders to discuss progress on testing without animals and it is clear that Colipa has made significant progress in developing and evaluating new alternative models through its collaborative work.”
Colipa’s efforts include the development of in vitro methods by its Eye Irritation Task Force, which uses reconstructed human tissue (RHT) that replicates the human eye cornea. The association’s research has also provided insights into skin allergies and has led to the development of three in vitro tests, now under review by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods.
Meanwhile, Colipa’s work with the SEURAT – 1 initiative (safety evaluation ultimately replacing animal testing), the European Commission’s Health programme initiative on alternatives, will be demonstrated during the poster session. This initiative is significant as it enables Colipa to collaborate extensively in the area of repeated dose toxicity testing.
“The cosmetics industry, through Colipa, is spending €37m between 2007 and 2014 on research into alternatives. This is more than any other sector,” commented Wenck.
