The REACH chance: 45 days to save animals

The EU Regulation REACH aims to test thousands of chemicals for toxicity. Since these plans were made public in 2000, we have campaigned for REACH regulation free of animal testing. Despite all efforts of animal welfare advocates, the greater part of the data is still to be gained by animal testing. In the next years between eight and fifty-four million animals are to suffer and die for REACH.

We do have a rescue plan!

As the result of pressure from animal welfare advocates, a 45 day comment phase was added to REACH. Companies intending to conduct animal tests must first submit testing proposals to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki, responsible for the implementation of REACH. The ECHA then publishes the proposals on its website for 45 days. This period gives us the opportunity to check whether the required data are already available or may be obtained by other methods than animal testing. The ECHA then decides whether or not the animal experiments must be conducted.

This regulation applies only to especially hazardous chemicals produced in large amounts (more than 100 tonnes per year). In 2009, four testing proposals were submitted. Several hundred such applications are expected in the coming years. Each one of them can mean suffering and death for thousands of animals.

Our rescue plan

In May 2010 our team was joined by a toxicologist. His task is to submit comments on REACH testing proposals – in collaboration with the BUAV and the ECEAE, who have also recruited a toxicologist.

There is already an example that this is a feasible way of saving animal lives, the HPV, an American programme similar to REACH, which was conducted at the beginning of the 2000s. Several American animal rights organisations employed toxicologists, who commented the testing proposals within the framework of a 90 day phase.

For the 1 400 chemicals tested, standard OECD testing protocols would have meant the death of 1 034 000 animals. In fact, ‘only’ some 158 000 Tiere were poisoned. The employment of specialists therefore meant that about 880 000 animals could be saved, mainly rats, mice and fish.

Whether such a high degree of success can be achieved with regard to REACH remains yet to be seen. It is especially problematic that the ECHA publishes far less data on the chemicals involved than the HPV did.

However, each testing proposal commented on can prevent animal testing. Together with our specialists and our partners in the ECEAE we will make the best use of the 45 day chance in order to save as many animals as possible from an agonising death by poison.

We would greatly appreciate support for our REACH project. >>

REACH news 10.06.2010 Die EU chemicals authority ECHA has published a guide for the industry on avoiding animal testing in the context of REACH. This success is the result of the ongoing work of the ECEAE. Our European umbrella organisation ECEAE is the only animal welfare organisation admitted to ECHA sessions. Further information REACH - cruel and unscientific mass animal testing >>