§ Baroness Billinghamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress they have made in the preparation of guidance on the conduct of regulatory toxicology and safety evaluation studies. [HL995]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)We have today published guidance on the conduct of regulatory toxicology and safety evaluation studies and a copy has been placed in the Library.
The guidance has been prepared by the Home Office working with the British Toxicology Society, the British Society of Toxicological Pathologists and the Department of Health and takes account of consultation with the scientific community and animal welfare and animal protection groups.
Copies of the guidance will be issued shortly to all establishments licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and it will also be available on the Home Office website.
The guidance will not impact significantly on the numbers of animals used, but will ensure that all possible refinement strategies are considered in the design of these studies.