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Mr. Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on abolishing the LD50 test.[95670]Mr. Mike O'Brien: We will vary, or revoke, any licence which authorises the use of the LD50 test (as defined by Organisation forEconomic Co-operation and Development guideline 401) and which was issued since 5 September 1998. On this date, amendments to theAnimals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 came into effect.We have accepted legal advice that Section 5(5) of the Act as amended does not allow licensing of the LD50 test for the purpose ofmeeting international regulatory requirements. The general principle is that a test will be licensed only where there is noscientifically valid and reasonably practicable and accepted alternative.In accord with this principle, we will also review all authorities to use the LD50 test in licences issued before September 1998. |