Non-animal testing gives new opportunities

Many animal tests have been discredited in recent years on ethical and practical grounds.  The advances made in science and testing technologies to strengthen animal-free testing has increased their reliability and means they are now offering a real alternative for the protection of human health. 

Non-animal testing is also gaining wider acceptance by undergoing strict international validation trials where it has demonstrated high levels of reproducibility and accurate prediction of effects on humans. As non-animal technologies have passed the much stricter criteria than those required by traditional animal tests, they are being accepted for regulatory use

There are also moves in Asia towards wider acceptance of animal-free tests with some countries having a complete ban on animal testing such as India and a partial one in Korea; while some countries such as Japan and Thailand are introducingin vitro methods and moving towards introducing legislation. Changes are also happening in China with the lifting of the mandatory requirement for animal testing on cosmetics and recent approval of a non-animal test there for the first time, although, in certain circumstances, some post-market animal testing is still required.