ECHA issues clarification to reduce animal testing for REACH registration

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has issued a clarification concerning the need to carry out two tests - repeated dose toxicity or reproductive toxicity - for the registration of substances imported or produced above 100 tonnes per year. It points out that if companies are intending to submit proposals for long-term studies, then they do not need to also carry out the short-term tests.

The clarification is intended to prevent companies rushing to commission short term tests, that will involve unnecessary animal testing, in order to meet next year's registration deadline. If companies submit proposals for long-term testing, they will need to ensure that interim risk assessment and management measures are inclued in their chemical safety assessments, reports and information passed on to customers, ECHA warns.

It urges firms to read its factsheet for full details.

• ECHA press release
• ECHA factsheet

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