The European Commission and the European cosmetic industry presented their joint financial effort for research into alternative safety testing methods recently at the VII World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences in Rome.
Earlier this summer, the European Commission launched a e25 million call for proposals in this field and the European cosmetic industry, represented by the European Cosmetics Association (Colipa), committed to match the funds. As a result, up to e50 million will be allocated to research projects, laying the scientific foundation for future safety testing methods with a higher predictive value that will be faster and cheaper than animal tests. Director general of Colipa, Bertil Heerink said: “For over 20 years, the cosmetic industry has been committed to the elimination of the use of animals for safety testing. Our industry welcomes the opportunity to contribute funding to this initiative, which has a key role to play in the process towards full replacement of animal safety tests in the scientifically complex area of systemic toxicity.”
