Comments on the European community strategy for endocrine disruptors

Public concern over the possible effects of chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine systems of humans and wild animals (endocrine disruptors [EDs]) has led to calls for immediate regulatory action in many parts of the world. In response, there has been an enormous increase in funding of research on this topic, and hurried attempts have been made to develop and validate methods for identifying EDs. Much of this activity involves experiments on live animals. In the haste to calm public concern over EDs, there is a great danger that animal welfare will be given too little consideration, and that research and testing involving animals will be greatly and unnecessarily increased. Recently, the European Commission published a Community Strategy for Endocrine Disruptors, which outlines actions to be taken to address concerns over EDs. In the short term, the strategy is to concentrate on specific chemicals of concern. Development of test methods is seen as a medium-term objective, linked to further research that will inform test selection and design. Adaptation and amendment of existing legislative instruments to cover endocrine-disrupting effects is envisaged as the long-term objective. The strategy makes no reference to the need to avoid unnecessary animal testing in ED research, test validation or chemical testing. It does, however, avoid the premature initiation of large-scale screening which, as is being promoted and planned in the USA, could involve the use of vast numbers of animals in tests of unproven validity or value.