Alternative toxicology Tests

Abstract

       Toxicity or safety testing of product and raw materials before being used with human and environment are inevitable. In particular when REACH (Registration, Evaluation Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) was implemented into the legal framework of European Union. All chemical substances imported or produced in the EU must provide toxicity data for registration and marketing in the EU. Alternative methods following the 3Rs principle i.e. Reduction, Refinement and Replacement must be considered in performing Toxicology tests. Such alternative methods must be scientifically validated to ensure that the toxicity information is reliable and relevant to organ specific and the end-point toxicity of interest and being accepted and conformed to the regulatory purposes. In addition, internationally accepted toxicology methods such as OECD Test Guideline shall be selected and performed by OECD GLP accredited laboratory so that the toxicity information will be accepted in regarding to the Mutual Acceptance of Data – MAD for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Therefore, there is an urgent need for Thailand to develop technical personnel, OECD GLP accredited laboratories including the Compliance Monitoring Authority (CMA) in order to cope with the Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) and enhance the competitiveness to the Thai exporters and help expand Thailand economics.