§ Mr. WardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the replacement of routine animal toxicity testing; and how long he expects the LD50 test to remain in use.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe development of alternatives to the use of living animals in toxicity testing is a continuing 591W process. Considerable progress has been made in topical toxicity testing. In systemic tests, especially in the areas of genotoxicity and some reproductive toxicity, in vitro pre-screening tests are increasingly being introduced. However, it has to be recognised that the validation of alternatives, and the acceptance of these by international regulatory bodies, is a lengthy process.
Encouraging moves have been made to replace the need for formal LD50 testing for certain, but not all, regulatory purposes. A British initiative has led to the development of an alternative to the LD50 test which uses fixed doses and does not depend upon lethality as an end point. Work is continuing to ensure that the validity of the fixed-dose procedure is recognised by international regulatory bodies. The use of the LD50 test may, however, remain necessary for certain types of toxicity testing, for some time.
§ Mr. WardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds for alternative research and validation the Government are providing in support of the objectives of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
§ Mrs. RumboldI refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 28 November 1990 to the question from the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) at columns416–17 and to my reply of 3 June 1991 to the question from the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) at column 71.
During the current financial year, the Home Office is making £215,000 available to fund research into the reduction, refinement or replacement of the use of living animals in scientific procedures.