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New advice on using non-animal test methods

ECHA/NI/17/01

ECHA’s updated guidance gives advice on how to use non-animal test methods, which are now the default for many endpoints. Registrants are encouraged to take the changes into account when deciding their testing strategies.

Helsinki, 24 January 2017 - The guidance takes into account the recently changed REACH information requirements, which made non-animal testing the default method for skin corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage/eye irritation and skin sensitisation. In addition, the guidance introduces a new possibility to use a weight-of-evidence approach for acute toxicity.

Registrants need to take the changes into account when submitting their registration dossiers to ECHA, otherwise they will not pass the completeness check.

The guidance update expands on the information on alternative methods and clarifies when and how to use them for REACH purposes. The recommended testing and assessment strategies have been refined accordingly.