Inauguration of European Centre for the Evaluation of Alternative Testing Methods
17 October 1994 - 17 October 1994
Italy
On 17 October 1994 the Joint Research Centre and the European Commission, DG XI, will officially inaugurate the European Centre for the Evaluation of Alternative Testing Methods (ECVAM) in Ispra, Italy.
EVCAM was set up as a special unit within the Environmental Institute of the Ispra Joint Research Centre. The Centre's main task will be to coordinate the validation of alternative testing methods at Community level. It will be supported by the JRC's technical infrastructure and, in particular, by toxicological laboratories equipped for in vitro testing. The creation of the Centre is a result of Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (OJ No L 358 of 18.12.1986) which calls on the Commission and Member States to encourage the development and validation of alternative techniques which would provide the same level of information as those used at present but which involve fewer animals or entail less painful procedures.
The Centre will have its own Scientific Consultative Committee composed of representatives from the Member States and the Commission, from the chemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, from academia and from organizations for the protection of animals.
Following the inauguration, a scientific symposium on "Validation in practice" will be held in Ispra on 18 October 1994.
For further information, please contact:
ECVAM
Public Relations and Publications
Environment Institute
Joint Research Centre
I-21020 Ispra (VA)
Tel. +39-332-789180/789889; Fax +39-332-785409/785818
EVCAM was set up as a special unit within the Environmental Institute of the Ispra Joint Research Centre. The Centre's main task will be to coordinate the validation of alternative testing methods at Community level. It will be supported by the JRC's technical infrastructure and, in particular, by toxicological laboratories equipped for in vitro testing. The creation of the Centre is a result of Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (OJ No L 358 of 18.12.1986) which calls on the Commission and Member States to encourage the development and validation of alternative techniques which would provide the same level of information as those used at present but which involve fewer animals or entail less painful procedures.
The Centre will have its own Scientific Consultative Committee composed of representatives from the Member States and the Commission, from the chemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, from academia and from organizations for the protection of animals.
Following the inauguration, a scientific symposium on "Validation in practice" will be held in Ispra on 18 October 1994.
For further information, please contact:
ECVAM
Public Relations and Publications
Environment Institute
Joint Research Centre
I-21020 Ispra (VA)
Tel. +39-332-789180/789889; Fax +39-332-785409/785818