Dear Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
DEFRA has a duty to provide guidance on REACH and this is clearly well with in their remit to do so. I attach a link to the website showing that DEFRA does indeed provide guidance on REACH.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-compl...
Please could I see the advice you have provided to businesses and organisations
regarding the use of laboratory grown skin which is now commercially available for all
toxicity testing here in the UK and should mean a complete replacement of animals in the tests listed below.
Here is the list of tests where full invitro replacements have been available for years, for skin irritation, sensitivity and corrosion, occular, and dermal, oral and inhalation:
OECD GD 203 (fish), OECD TG 435, OECD TG 431, OECD TG 430, OECD GD 20,
OECD TG 439, OECD GD 168, OECD TG 442C, OECD TG 442D, OECD TG 442E,
OECD GD 28 (2004), OECD TG 428, OECD TG 495, OECD No. 498, TM2007-03(EU),
OECD GD 263 OECD TG 460, OECD TG 491 , OECD TG 437 , OECD TG 438 , OECD
TG 492 , OECD TG 496 .
How are you ensuring compliance with the 1986 ASPA with regard to the continuing use of the animal testing tests, for the above fully replaced tests by the businesses who fall under your remit?
Please do not refer me back to the Home Office as I refer you to the section in the above document called "Cross-Government ownership of animals in scientific procedures policy.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is identified as follows and I quote "Protection of the natural environment, Chemical regulation (REACH), Precision Breeding, Animal Welfare (excluding ASPA), health and preservation of species, Veterinary Medicine."

Yours faithfully,

Linda Birr-Pixton