§285l–4 Federal agency action

Summary

Federal agencies that run programs using acute or chronic toxicology tests must, within 180 days after ICCVAM makes a test recommendation, find any test methods in their rules or industry guidelines that currently use or push animal tests and send those to ICCVAM. They must also support creating and using non-animal alternatives when those alternatives produce at least the same amount and scientific quality of data for hazard ID, dose-response, or risk assessment. Any new or revised test (animal or alternative) must be shown valid for its intended use before the agency requires or recommends it. Within 180 days of getting an ICCVAM recommendation, an agency must review it and tell ICCVAM its decision in writing. The agency must adopt the recommendation unless it decides one of four things: the test isn’t biologically relevant for its regulatory goal; it doesn’t produce equivalent data in amount or scientific value; the agency doesn’t test that chemical class or endpoint; or the recommendation won’t meet the agency’s testing needs or its Congressional mandate.