Implementation of in-vitro test strategy

 

It is the explicit intention of the ACuteTox consortium that the in-vitro test strategy developed shall achieve regulatory approval and become widely implemented in industry.

 

To this end, the European Commission’s European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), which assesses test methods not involving animals, and the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) responsible for chemical safety are active project partners and will strive for regulatory approval, provided the test strategy fulfils requirements. During the last two years of the project, the in-vitro test strategy will be prevalidated to demonstrate the reproducibility and relevance of each building block. Prevalidation will be carried out by 3-4 laboratories and the results will be independently assessed. It is expected that further validation will lead to regulatory approval of the test strategy and its incorporation into standardised test guidelines for chemicals hazard assessment. However, the ultimate success of the in-vitro test strategy is determined by its acceptance by industry and authorities, for which reason they will be actively involved in a continuing dialogue throughout the ACuteTox project to ensure user-friendliness and whole-hearted acceptance.