In an effort to reduce the number of animals used in the registration and testing of cosmetics in China, the US non-profit laboratory continues to assist China authorities in adopting alternative methods to evaluate cosmetics manufactured in the Zhejiang province.
The Institute's most recent course was attended by ZJFDA scientists who were taught laboratory techniques using more predictive and human relevant test methods such as reconstructed human skin and eye models.
"We know it is essential that Chinese laboratories be able to provide non-animal testing methods before the CFDA will approve their use in regulatory submissions," says Erin Hill, Co-Founder and President of the IIVS.
"The ZJFDA's goal to be recognized as a key laboratory for non-animal methods presents a great opportunity and we are pleased to be able to support their notable efforts," she adds.
IIVS work in China
The Institute for In Vitro Sciences specializes in testing thousands of ingredients for cosmetic companies while providing training on its methods in an effort to get the word out to regulatory agencies about alternatives.
In 2006, the director of education and outreach programs, Dr. Brian Jones first trekked to China to discuss alternatives in cosmetics and bring labs up to speed on the latest methods.
By 2011, the breakthrough came when Chinese officials held a conference with the IIVS team and a number of experts to discuss how to modify the '3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Assay' and fit it in to what’s been done in the cosmetics industry.
“We talked about going through a system of working labs and the competency of the assay - in December they were working on it from the labs and by February they had the document for comment,” Dr. Jones told CosmeticsDesign-Asia.com in 2012.
“From my experience, China is very interested in alternatives; the Guangdong CDC laboratory for example has done a lot of work looking at alternatives over the last ten years,” he added.