The meeting will be hosted by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research. The programme features genotoxicity testing, the REACH proposal and endocrine disruptor testing. Full information will be sent early September.
The IVTIP website remains hugely popular. We now have the complete statistics for the first seven months of 2003. The statistics show that the website on average receives between 5,000-9,000 visits, which result in 3,000-4,500 specific requests for pages. The most popular pages are protocols, research and links, followed by news and members. The secure page, available only to IVTIP members, receives 70-100 visitors per month. A relatively large number of visitors work in industry, since between 27-44% of all requests come from addresses with a .com ending. Approximately 50% of the visitors access the site directly through the www.ivtip.org address, meaning they either type in our web address directly or have it bookmarked.
|
Visits |
Pages |
From industry | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
January |
7513 |
3872 |
36% |
|
February |
8657 |
4445 |
35% |
|
March |
9057 |
4389 |
27% |
|
April |
9207 |
4418 |
27% |
|
May |
7215 |
3736 |
27% |
|
June |
5433 |
2949 |
28% |
|
July |
5322 |
3234 |
44% |
Ms Catherine Day, the director-general of DG Environment, has said that the EUs new REACH chemicals policy will help foster the development of so-called 'substitutes' for some of the most hazardous substances. Also on a positive note, a UK consultant study estimated that REACH could, in the end, produce health improvements worth between 18-54 billion ¨ over a 30-year period. On the other hand, the chemicals industry and a multitude of increasingly concerned downstream users such as textile manufacturers have argued that the Commission's estimate of the costs 18-32 billion ¨ over a period to 2020 - could be far higher. Some even say that REACH could lead to 10% of all existing chemicals circulating in Europe to be pulled off the market altogether due to onerous testing requirements. According to Ms Day, the sting is that the costs of implementing REACH fall in certain quarters, while the benefits will be more widely spread.
Source: European Voice June 5, 2003
On July 11, CEFIC posted its comments on the draft chemicals legislation on the internet. Here follows the content:
The European chemical industry supports the political objectives of the new chemicals legislation as stated in the White Paper. Of particular importance for industry is to ensure the protection of human health and environment and to create a more efficient regulatory framework. However, the proposed system is unworkable. It will have a negative impact on the competitiveness of the European chemical industry in the global market, its contribution to the economic wellbeing of the EU and its ability to finance innovation.
The proposals go far beyond what was initially proposed in the White Paper on the future strategy for chemicals in 2001. This deviation from the original objectives is unjustified and fails to recognize the reality of problems with existing legislation which need to be overcome and the finite resources available in business and government.
The following documents are now available:
www.cefic.org/files/Publications/Executive Summary.doc An executive summary with key comments of the European Chemical Industry on the Commission's Draft Legislative Proposals on REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals)
www.cefic.org/files/Publications/Appendix 1 - Volume 1.doc
Appendix 1 - Consultation Document concerning Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals
(REACH) &endash; Volume 1: Cefic Comments on Volumes I and
VII of the REACH consultation document of the European
Commission
(includes a summary of Cefic's
comments and a detailed assessment regarding each Title.
However, this contribution should not be considered as an
approval of the current draft by the European chemical
industry)
www.cefic.org/files/Publications/Appendix 2 - Volume 2.doc
Appendix 2 - Consultation Document concerning Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals
(REACH) &endash; Volume 2: Cefic Comments on Annexes of
Volumes II and VI of the REACH consultation document of the
European Commission
(includes a summary of Cefic's comments and a detailed
assessment regarding each Annex. However, this contribution
should not be considered as an approval of the current draft
by the European chemical industry)
www.cefic.org/files/Publications/Appendix 3 - Legal Issues.doc
Appendix 3 - Legal Issues
www.cefic.org/files/Publications/Appendix 4 - Summary of Business Impact Assessments of New Chemicals Policy.doc Appendix 4 - Summary of Business Impact Assessments of New Chemicals Policy
www.cefic.org/files/Publications/Appendix 5 - New Chemicals Policy and International Trade - WTO.doc
Appendix 5 - Proposed New Chemicals Legislation and
International Trade/WTO
www.cefic.org/files/Publications/Appendix 6 - Occupational Diseases .doc
Appendix 6 - Occupational Diseases in the European Chemical
Industry _ Impact of REACH .
For further information on the new chemicals policy review, please visit CEFIC's dedicated website on www.chemicalspolicyreview.org
Even though supporting an adequate re-organizing of the EU chemical regulation framework in general, ECOPA had raised early on concerns about the consequences of the new EU Chemical Policy laid down in the White Paper in terms of massive lab animal testing as a result of the proposed regulations. But only under massive pressure by ECOPA and others, the Commission admitted that there will not be sufficient alternative methods in place in time to limit lab animal testing induced by the new regulations, and that therefore, the EU has/had to take care of more research resources for further development of additional alternatives.
However, the now proposed draft version of the policy presented for internet consultation still lacks a responsible and balanced basic view. There are no signs for any further restriction in in vivo-testing, especially when considering the additional testing required for the roughly 30, 000 core substances. In addition, ECOPA is also concerned by the negligence with which the issue of development of further alternative tests is pursued and reflected in the draft. There is also reason for concern regarding the conflicting costs and benefits studies as well as the apparent need for additional bureaucracy, demonstrated by a newly to be founded agency.
For more information, please visit: http://ecopa.vub.ac.be
Assays for endocrine disruptor screening ICCVAM informed us of the availability of the report "ICCVAM Evaluation of In Vitro Test Methods
For Detecting Potential Endocrine Disruptors: Estrogen Receptor and Androgen Receptor Binding and Transcriptional Activation Assays," NIH Publication No. 03-4503, published May 2003..
The report contains ICCVAM's recommendations on minimum procedural standards and reference substances for standardization and validation of in vitro estrogen and androgen receptor binding and transcriptional activation assays. These assays are proposed as possible components of the EPA Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) Tier 1 screening battery.
The entire report can be viewed on the ICCVAM website in pdf (8.4 MB in seize at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/endodocs/edfinrpt/edfinrpt.pdf or
report sections can be viewed individually at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/endodocs/edfinrpt/edreport.htm.
Final versions of the Background
Review Documents (BRDs) reviewed at the May 21-22, 2002,
expert panel meeting have been archived at the following
location.
http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/endodocs/backgrnd.htm.
These documents can also be accessed from the ICCVAM home page at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov through the links in the "Announcements" box.
For more information on this method, visit the Endocrine Disruptor page at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/endocrine.htm.
Also available are the proposed Minimum Performance Standards (MPS) for three types of in Vitro methods for assessing the dermal corrosivity hazard potential of chemicals and request for comments.
These proposed MPS were developed by the ICCVAM Dermal Corrosivity and Irritation Working Group (DCIWG) to communicate criteria, which can be used to determine if similar test methods have comparable accuracy and reliability.
The MPS documents are located on the ICCVAM website as follows:
In Vitro Membrane Barrier Test Systems http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/epiddocs/mps/mpscorro.pdf
In Vitro Human Skin Model Systems-http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/epiddocs/mps/mps_skin.pdf
Vitro Skin Transcutaneous Electrical Resistance (TER) Tests - http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/epiddocs/mps/mps_ter.pdf
Since 1998, there is a trend that fewer pharmaceuticals have been registered for marketing. In 2002, only 30 new drugs were approved in the US and 20 in the EU.
One reason is the mergers into mega-companies, resulting in a selecting of potential drug candidates with a concentration on potential blockbuster drugs. Despite the recent trends, larger companies expect the tide to turn in the future. In 2003, 6,994 new active substances and projects were being researched (a 9% increase compared to 2002). The European Commission will start this fall a study trying to determine whether there is a worldwide innovation crisis in the pharmaceutical industry and what might be its causes. The FDA has already started an action plan to decrease the time and costs involved in the registration process.
For detailed information, see:
www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/3003/beyond2002/report.html
www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2003/beyond2002/execsumm.html
Top 10 companies for R&D products (source: SCRIP may 14, 2003)
|
Company |
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
1. GSK |
|
|
|
2. Roche |
|
|
|
3. J&J |
|
|
|
4. Aventis |
|
|
|
5. Pfizer |
|
|
|
6. AstraZeneca |
|
|
|
7. Novartis |
|
|
|
8. Merck & Co |
|
|
|
9. Schering AG |
|
|
|
10. Abbott |
|
|
Here are some interesting data concerning biotechnology companies in the US versus Europe (source: Ernst & Young, 2002).
|
Number of biotech companies: |
1,457 US |
1,879 EU |
|---|---|---|
|
Turnover (Mil USD) |
25,319 US |
7,533 EU |
|
R&D (in mil USD) |
11,532 US |
4,244 EU |
|
Employees |
141,000 US |
34, 180 EU |
At the end of June, DG Environment called the first meeting of a Technical Expert Working group to provide scientific and technical advice on the revision of Directive 86/609, which determines how member states regulate the use of animals in experiments. The Working Group is expected to hold a final meeting in October or November 2003. Following this, DG Environment will consider the advice and produce a first draft proposal for new legislation to replace directive 86/609, to be followed by a broad stakeholder consultation in spring 2004.
Source: EBRA Bulletin, summer 2003
To be able to respond faster to health threats, such as SARS, and to increase preparedness for a possible bio-terrorist attack, the Commission has proposed the creation of a new agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). With a small core staff, the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control would draw together the expertise of hundreds of scientists around Europe. The Centre would improve upon Europe's communicable disease network already in place and would take over the work on monitoring and preparedness planning against bioterrorist attack so far pursued by the EU's Health Security Task Force.
Source: Euractive July 24, see also the Commission documents
A report prepared by an independent high level study group at the request of Commission President Romano Prodi has outlined a path for growth in Europe, which sees an emphasis on innovation, research and higher education. "The Group views Europe's unsatisfactory growth performance during the last decades as a symptom of its failure to transform into an innovation-based economy," states the report. This change has become necessary in the context of globalisation and because Europe no longer needs to concentrate on reproducing what is done in the US, but on doing it better, according to the report.
"Europe suffers from a lack of private sector investment in R&D, substantial although diminishing levels of public investment in R&D and poor efficiency in the distribution of available public funds," according to the high level group. It is proposed that these weaknesses are addressed through tax credits for R&D and innovative investments, and additional public research spending at both national and EU level. The report questions the models used for the allocation of research funding across Europe. It criticises the 'juste retour' principle, whereby each party gets back the equivalent of what it has paid in, for not paying enough attention to prioritisation or excellence.
Centrally directed research programmes, such as the European Commission's Framework Programmes for research, are also questioned. The high level group claims that, in general, the funding system can be lengthy and bureaucratic, and the projects selected for funding tend to be large and 'can quickly turn in to white elephants.' The report also recommends the creation of an independent European agency for science and research (EASR), based on the US National Science Foundation, as well as the Nordic and British research councils.
To access the report in full, visit http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/prodi/pdf/agenda_for_growing_europe_en.pdf
The European Commission's Enterprise DG has published a book entitled 'entrepreneurial innovation in Europe', which summarises 11 recent reports on innovation policies, and outlines a European model for 'smart' innovation policy.
The book is designed to help regional, national and EU policy makers strengthening Europe's innovation capacity through the introduction of effective, targeted legislation and support measures. The impact of industrial relations policies on innovation is the focus of the fourth chapter. The study outlines a generic model of innovation friendly industrial policies, which include direct and indirect forms of employee consultation.
The final section assesses corporate taxation as a means of encouraging companies to make innovation related investments. It concludes that well designed tax incentives, adapted to local circumstances, can encourage additional business investment in research and development.
See the publication at
http://www.cordis.lu/innovation-policy/studies/ca_study4.htm
European Commissioner Philippe Busquin has called for more investment on research into brain disease. He spoke this at the launch of the European Brain Council (EBC) at the EP late June. Busquin found it "surprising that more funds are not devoted to this area of science". Brain diseases account for 30% of the financial cost of treating diseases worldwide.
Source: European Voice, June 19-25, 2003
At the Lisbon Council in March 2000, the Heads of States and Government agreed to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic, knowledge-based economy by 2010 In line with this aim, the overarching objective of the Research Commissioner Busquin during the Italian presidency will be to continue the efforts to create a more favorable overall framework for research in Europe to realize the vision of a genuine integrated European Research Area (ERA).
To achieve this, the Commission is planning to focus on six broad policy areas:
The 3% objective: meeting the target of increasing research investment from the current 1.9% to 3% of its GDP per year, with two thirds financed by the private sector, as called for by the 2002 Barcelona European Council; this would mean a necessary increase of 500,000 jobs.
Attractiveness of researchers' careers: providing researchers with support and incentives to stop the so-called "brain drain", i.e. researchers leaving the EU to work in other countries such as the US or Japan; the Commission will present a Communication on this issue
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER): progressing on the ITER nuclear fusion energy research project to build a new experimental reactor producing a high level of energy through the fusion of hydrogen nuclei at very high temperatures in order to provide the EU with another important alternative energy source to fossil fuels; agreement on the location of ITER is expected at the September Council meeting (candidates are Vandellos, Spain, and Cadarache, France).
European Space Policy: defining and implementing a coherent set of rules for collaboration between the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) to give the EU a political rule in the field of space; the Council should conclude a frameword agreement between the EU and the ESA at its November meeting and discuss a White Paper on European Space Policy, which will be drafted by the Commission in co-operation with ESA and should be published before the end of 2003.
Bio-ethics: research involving human embryonic stem cells and human embryos: the key challenge for the Italian presidency will be to reach an agreement on a Commission proposal for establishing criteria for EU funding of research projects involving the use of human embryonic stem cells; ministers are expected to adopt a Decision at the Competitiveness Council in November 2003.
Research infrastructures: the Italian Presidency will organize a conference in Trieste on 21 November to assess progress of European cooperation in the field of research infrastructure and stimulate further initiatives; research infrastructure is also expected to be a formal agenda item at the Competitiveness Council in November 2003.
Source: Euractive, July 17, 2002
The Commission's Third Report on Science and Technology indicators revealed a growing trend of "brain drain" in the EU. Although the EU produces the highest amount of science graduates, it loses an increasing number of highly qualified researchers to the US, where their employment prospects are better .
To address this problem, the Commission on 18 July 2003 presented a Communication on improving the careers of researchers in the EU. This paper proposes concrete actions to improve the image of researchers, to attract more people to scientific careers and to foster researchers' mobility across Europe.
These initiatives are designed to provide a basis for cooperation with the EU Member States and the research community, while respecting the subsidiarity principle, and they include:
The Commission has already launched a number of initiatives in this area, including EU training and mobility schemes for researchers, such as the Marie Curie Actions, and a EU mobility portal. It will also soon complete the creation of the European network of mobility centres (ERA-MORE) and a legal initiative.
Free of charge: Tenders Electronic Daily, covering public tenders of the EU http://ted.publications.eu.int
Local contact point (53 in Europe) to address for help regarding technology transfer to and from the rest of Europe www.cordis.lu/irc/home.html
National contact points for FP6 in member states to provide help with finding partners and assisting in procedural or administrative matters www.cordis.lu/fp6/ncp.htm
Europan Research Gateways On Line. National information on R&D projects, coordinated by the EC. www.cordis.lu/ergo
EU national and European funded research in the EU member states www.cordis.lu/national_service
EU funded TSE research Europa.eu.int/comm./research/quality-of-life/tse/index_en.html
Developments in European science
in the on-line European Research News Centre
europa.eu.int/comm/research/news-centre/index_en.html
Who's who in the EU: europa.eu.int/idea/idea.html
Who's who in European research support www.cordis.lu/contacts
How to register as an expert evaluator: www.cordis.lu/expert-candidature/home.html
IFAH International Federation for Animal Health: www.ifahsec.org
The number of animal experiments in the Netherlands has been reduced compared to 2000. Part of this reduction is a decrease in the number of animals used to produce a genetic modified animal. Only 12% of the total number of genetically modified animals is used for experiments.
Compared to 2000 (in brackets), the 714,449 (745,064) animals were used for:
Source: NCA Newsletter 9
The Council has formally adopted its common position on the proposed new law setting quality and safety standards for the handling of human tissues and cells. This legislation will introduce more stringent requirements on the suitability of donors, screening of donated substances, as well as the traceability from donor to patient and vice versa. Rules for third country imports will also be established ensuring equivalent standards of quality and safety.
The legislative proposal will now be forwarded to the European Parliament for a second reading.
Source:
Euractive portal, July
24:
www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe/615349701?714&1015=9&1014=ld_humantissue
Legislation on human tissues and cells
A multidisciplinary Dutch/international group of researchers have developed a ëCode for proper secondary use of human tissueí (which is human tissue that has become available within the framework of health care). The purpose of the new code is to provide researchers with practical guides for the design and execution of scientific research with human tissue such that the right for consent is respected. The code specifies the terms of the contract between suppliers of tissue or blood (the clinician) and the receiver (the researcher) and provides the rules for informing patients in case of peculiar unexpected findings with clinical or etiological relevance. For more information see Cancer 2003;3: 73-77.
Source: NCA Newsletter 8; and www.fmwv.nl, follow the 'Tissue Code English' link.
On July 9, 2003, the Commission adopted a proposal for guidelines on EU funded human embryonic stem cell research. The proposal presents a coherent set of strict ethical guidelines that will apply to the EU funding of research projects involving the derivation of stem cells from human supernumerary embryos. In parallel, the Commission is publishing a call for proposals for the set-up of a European registry of stem cells and for contributing to the establishment of public stem cell banks. In this way, the EU will contribute to an optimal access to and use of stem cells, ensuring that the results of research ultimately become more quickly available to all patients across Europe.
The Commission proposal does not aim to set universal ethical principles, nor does it aim to provide guidelines for EU Member States, since every Member State must decide for itself on this issue. The proposal is fully in line with the various opinions of the European Group on Ethics (EGE), in particular opinion n15 of November 14, 2000, "Ethical aspects of human stem cell research and use". The Framework Programme respects national rules and values as no funding is made available for a specific research activity in a Member State where that research is forbidden.
It proposes the following guidelines:
The Commission intends to fund the creation of a European registry, an initiative advocated by nearly all Member States. Such a registry at European level should reduce the need for derivation of stem cells from human supernumerary embryos in the future.
Collaborative research at EU level should contribute to a reduction of the use of human embryos. By sharing resources and results within a European project, duplication of research activities will be reduced. Furthermore, more rapid scientific progress can be achieved by bringing together multidisciplinary teams.
In the year 2002, a total of 78 stem cell lines had been approved for federal funded research in the US:
Useful web sites:
Human embryonic stem cell registry: http://escr.nih.gov
AAAS stem cell policy brief www.aaas.org/spp/cstc/issues/stemcells.htm
AAAS human cloning policy brief: www.aas.org/spp/cstc/issues/cloning.htm
Modern scientific advances have led to a new generation of 'omic' sciences. Now, for the first time, all those sciences have become integrated under one roof in a 'Biomics Research Centre' at St Georges Hospital Medical School in London UK. The Biomics Centre brings together genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and transcriptomics capabilities to conduct medical research into cancer, infectious and cardiovascular diseases and transplantation. The Centre is partly funded by a Science Research Investment Grant (SRIF) of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Source: Bioventure View, April 2003
In the US, the debate on stem cell research received a new impetus with a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine by academics unhappy with the current political debate.
Several national bills have been proposed aimed at curtailing stem cell research; in some states bills take the form of a total ban on nuclear transplants (thus prohibiting both reproductive as well as therapeutic cloning); in other it is proposed to introduce a limited ban on research with embryonal stem cells. In addition, the various states have their own laws. There is a total ban in the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan and North Dakota, a ban on reproductive cloning in Louisiana and Missouri and in California the reverse has happened: there a law has been passed aimed at stimulating stem cell research.
In their article, the academics argue that research into reprogramming adult stem cells would benefit substantially if research with current methods is allowed, including nuclear transplants to create new embryonal stem cell lines. Laws that would prohibit such research would ultimately hamper research into reprogramming of adult stem cells.
Source: Daley George Q., Cloning and Stem Cells &endash;Handicapping the Political and Scientific Debates, New England Journal for Medicine 349:3 p. 265-266, July 17, 2003
Rosenthal Nadia, Prometheusís Vulture and the Stem-Cell Promise, New England Journal for Medicine 349:3, p. 267-274, July 17, 2003
Several articles in Nature have
been addressing the issue whether bone marrow stem cells are
able to repair heart damage. Two years ago, researchers
claimed to have been able to repair damaged heart tissue in
mice using mouse bone marrow stem cells. Apart from repair,
also the heart function improved. In other research rats
with an induced heart attack were injected with angiogenic
stem cells. In these rats, new blood vessels were formed,
further dying of heart muscle cells was stopped and the pump
function improved.
However, many of the injected stem cells poorly
survived.
Recently, Victor Dzau of the Bringham and Women's Hospital in Boston (USA) genetically modified bone marrow stem cells to survive better (they introduced a "cell survival gene"). These cells were injected into rats with a previously induced heart attack. More than 60% of the cells survived 48 hours and thereby prevented a further deterioration of the heart. Some researchers now speculate that repair of human hearts following a heart attack will be possible in the short term.
Long-lived stem cells heal heart attacks, Nature, 11 August 2003, www.nature.com/nsu/030804/030804-15.html
Hope stems for broken hearts, Nature, 31 March 2001, www.nature.com/nsu/010404/010404-4.html
In early June, the UKs main coalition of radical animal rights groups announced a shift in focus away from the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. The new focus will be the campaign Stop Primate Experiments at Cambridge.
Source: EBRA Bulletin, summer 2003
Following increasing pressure from animal rights activists, Sweden's only laboratory cat breeding centre in Halmstad announced its immediate closure. Also in Sweden, its Board of Agriculture, in conjunction with the National Board for Laboratory Animals, recently prohibited the use of all great apes and nine species of gibbons from research procedures. However, Sweden has not used any of these species in research for over a decade. With this official ban, Sweden has followed the UK and the Netherlands, which have already banned the use of great apes in research.
Source: EBRA bulletin, summer 2003
Dutch patient groups want to mimic the publicity campaigns of their US counterparts, which combat emotions with emotions. An example: in US bus stations hang posters with a little girl holding a cuddly toy with the text: It's the animals you don't see that really helped her recover' At the bottom of the poster it says: "Recent, a surgical technique perfected on animals was used to remove a malignant tumor from a little girlís brain. We lost some lab animals. But look what we saved".
At the moment, European patient groups seldom resort to emotive campaigns. In contrast, animal rights group already use emotive campaigns for a number of years.
Source: Bionieuws, June 6, 2003 and www.fbresearch.org
The AllChemE seminars provide members of the parliament, the scientific community, and other stakeholders with a forum for open dialogue and informed discussions on topics related to the impact and role of chemical science in society.
On May 7, 2003 the topic of the discussion was ëAlternatives to Animal Testing &endash; Opportunities and Limitations in the Regulatory Frameworkí, with guest speaker Professor Coenraad Hendriksen of the Centre for Alternatives to Animal Use (NCA), Utrecht University.
Here follows a summary of his presentation:
Around 10 million laboratory animals are consumed in testing each year in Europe, and 10 percent of the tests are for regulatory purposes. Animal testing has historically been beneficial, especially to advances in medicine, and is still needed to protect human safety and wildlife. However, there are a number of intrinsic problems with animal testing ranging from economic (time and cost), through scientific (issues of reproducibility, standardisation and extrapolation) to the more ethical ones.
The concept of the 3Rís (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction) in animal testing is codified in the EU by Council Directive 86/609/EEC and supported by the scientific and regulatory community, however, though there has been a significant downward trend in the use of animals over the last decades, advancements in this area has been relatively limited. In certain areas, progress has been particularly frustrating. A major problem is the time taken to develop and validate alternatives.
Major obstacles are a lack of common scientific tools, funding issues, a relatively low priority assigned to this activity and negative cost-benefit analysis. Greater support is needed to make sure 3Rs development is given higher priority. Directive 86/609 should be fully implemented and greater harmonisation is needed to reduce duplicate testing. There is a need to support more intelligent, more flexible and less bureaucratic testing strategies. Finally it is important to consider all three R's equally, as replacement is not necessarily possible or advisable in some cases. Prof Hendriksen concluded by stating that "Less animals makes more science. And more science makes better regulations."
A new publication is available on the use of reconstituted human epidermis in safety assessement:
An assessment of the phototoxic hazard of a personal product ingredient using in vitro assays.
Toxicology In Vitro 17, 311-321, 2003.
The CCAC (Canadian Council on Animal Care) Annual Report 2002-2003 is now available in English and in French on CCACs website at http://www.ccac.ca/english/publicat/pubframe.htm
Information: Amine Kamen, Biotechnology Research Institute,
tel + 514 496 0915, fax + 514 496 6785
Email: 6thPEACe@nrc.ca;
www.bri.nrc.ca/6thPEACe
Information: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2003/healthrisk03/index.html
Information: www.PharmaSeries.com
Organization: fab2003@biomath.rug.ac.be
Information: MEGAT,
www.zet.or.at/kongress/Linz2003
Email: linz2003@zet.or.at
Information: www.eurotox2003.org/
Information: info@biovalleybasel.com
Information: Phone: +33.493.97.77.27,
Fax:
+33.493.97.77.28
E-Mail: myrprou@skinethic.com
Information: www.eatb.de/html/events
Information: www.patinnova.org
Or www.european-patent-office.org/epidos/conf/eac2003/
Information: ivtip@ivtip.org
Information: clare.king@reedexpo.co.uk
www.cordiaconvention.com
Information: info@biovalleybasel.com
Organization: blhata@uta.fi or www.uta.fi/fst
Information: www.esof2004.org