Alternatives to animal testing: achievements and recent developments in the European Pharmacopoeia.
The European Pharmacopoeia has declared its full support for thorough application of the three Rs in the tests that comprise the official standards. Significant progress has been achieved in the last few years in the fields of pyrogen testing, hormones, blood products and, to a lesser extent, vaccines. Many projects are at present under way. Until recently, the approach was more or less passive, awaiting a consensus on new methods before incorporation into the official standard. However, a more active approach has now been adopted, notably by the organisation of validation exercises both to establish alternative methods and to encourage their wide use. All users of the Pharmacopoeia are concerned by this problem and they should be aware that all proposals and initiatives will be followed up within the means at our disposal.
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European Pharmacopoeia Secretariat, Strasbourg, France.
D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology; D005060:Europe; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D010602:Pharmacopoeias as Topic; D011749:Pyrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011786:Quality Control; D014612:Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology
D001688:Biological Products; D006728:Hormones; D011749:Pyrogens; D014612:Vaccines