by Eden Stuart

The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) has released a statement applauding China’s National Medical Products Administ­ration (NMPA) for its acceptance of certain non-animal test methods for cosmetic regulation.

In a noticed issues March 22, 2019, the NMPA announced its acceptance of nine test methods, including Direct Peptide Reaction Assay (DPRA) for skin sensitization (OECD TG 442C) and Short Time Exposure Assay (STE) for eye irritation (OECD TG 491).

Related: China Forms Non-animal Testing Working Group, Appoints IIVS

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) struck between IIVS and China’s National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC)—a scientific subordinate body of the NMPA—has seen the organizations collaborating on projects designed to bring alternative test methods to China. It has included hands-on training in alternatives for MPA/NIFDC scientists, training more than 100 scientists in numerous methods, including the first officially approved non-animal test methods, the NRU 3T3 Phototoxicity assay.

“We have seen first-hand how the partnership with NIFDC and our training program have built capacity and proficiency in alternat­ives,” said IIVS president Erin Hill. “The opening of the alternatives laboratory at the Zhejiang Institute for Food and Drug Control (ZJIFDC) is a wonderful example of how laboratories can expand to offer training and testing services in alternative test methods.”

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