Alternatives to Animal Tests
What Drives the Trend?
 Every year, millions of animals are used in toxicity tests worldwide. But recent years have seen a new momentum toward nonanimal methods. What’s driving the trend? A new international survey conducted by PCRM and published in the journal ALTEX explains the factors behind the changes.
PCRM toxicologist Kristie Sullivan, M.P.H., and her co-authors surveyed scientists to learn what factors most influence the implementation of nonanimal methods in Europe and North America. At the top of the list in Europe were legislation and scientific relevance. In North America, the key motivator was consumer demand, bolstered by industry interest in developing safe and effective products quickly and cheaply.
The survey results were presented at the 8th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences on Aug. 22, 2011.
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