[OECD pushes antiquated animal test for endocrine disrupting activity]

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) plans to set up a guideline for chemical testing (the "Immature Rat Utereotrophic Bioassay Screening Test") on the basis of an obsolete animal assay to standardise routine testing for endocrine disrupting activity. The proposed method will not do justice to the protection of consumers and the environment. On the other hand a number of promising in vitro methods exist that can be used to study the (also mechanics) effects of substances on the endocrine system. Therefore, from the animal point of view, too, the OECD proposal is unacceptable.