When will the Government ban the testing of household products?
The justification for the testing of household products or their ingredients is the need for regulatory authorities to have sufficient information to assess the risks to which humans, animals, plants or the environment are exposed (and their efficacy if relevant), as required by National and International legislations, when these products or their ingredients are produced, transported or used. The Secretary of State will only authorise animals tests when she is satisfied that the purpose of the test cannot be achieved by any other reasonably practicable method not entailing the use of protected animals. A case by case approach is a requirement when animal tests are licensed. Account will be taken of physio-chemical properties of the test substance, computer modelling and structure-activity relationships, and results of in vitro screening if appropriate which will inform the need and type of animal test needed. The Home Office is aware that there is some public concern regarding the use
