The European Union Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Experimentation, part of the JRC (Joint Research Center), is tasked with coordinating and carrying out validation studies of alternative methods for assessing the safety of chemical products, disseminating information and sharing knowledge between disciplines and sectors, and promoting alternative methods.

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Status report 2024 : click here

Status report 2023 : click here

Status report 2022 : click here

Status report 2021 : click here

Status report 2020 : click here

2020 : EURL ECVAM recommendation on non-animal-derived antibodies: click here

ECVAM’s Scientific Advisory Board has reviewed the available evidence and issued an opinion on the scientific validity of antibodies produced using non-animal technologies. The review focused on non-animal antibodies generated by phage technology, the most mature and already widely used technology. The opinion highlights the ability of existing animal-free technologies to produce affinity reagents of equal or superior quality (purity, activity, specificity, affinity, stability, reproducibility) to that offered by antibodies produced using conventional animal-based methods.

Consequently, the Recommendation urges end-users and other stakeholders to recognize the scientific validity of non-animal-derived antibodies, and to stop using animals for antibody development and production.

“Every year in the EU, nearly a million animals are used for antibody generation and production, despite the availability of technologies that do not require the use of animals. Not only is this number high, but the procedures employed often cause severe suffering. The Recommendation proposes concrete actions for key players, including end-users, commercial suppliers, authorities, research funding bodies and journal publishers.”

Text of the recommendation : click here