The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris has approved a guideline for testing chemicals for possible detrimental effects on reproduction. With the help of the “Extended One Generation Reproductive Toxicity Study”, the number of animals used can be halved in comparison to the test used so far, as the harmful experiments need no longer be performed on a second generation of animals. In order to test chemicals, biocides and pesticides for harmful effects, pregnant rats or mice are treated with the test substances with the goal of investigating the effects on their offspring. During the decades up until now, each test needlessly used as many as 5000 animals, although the harmful effect was already provable in the first generation of offspring. Tests on a second generation can now be dispensed with entirely.

The new test method is immediately available for use by companies and authorities worldwide.


OECD guideline TG443: http://forums.alttox.org/index.php?topic=702.0