Updated regulation could cut animal testing by 40 per cent

The European Parliament has approved a change in the EU’s biocides regulation that is expected to reduce animal testing by between 40 and 70 per cent. The updated biocides directive promotes methods to reduce animal use when testing these non-food pesticides for problems such as skin allergies. It also encourages companies to combine several toxicity assessments into a single test. The change has been welcomed by the Commission, MEPs and the animal protection group Humane Society International.