The Eurofins Biolab laboratory at the Barcelona Science Park (PCB) has been selected as one of the first 13 members of the European Union Network of Laboratories for the Validation of Alternative Methods (EU-NETVAL), created by the European Union Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM), in response to the provision of Directive 2010/63/UE, relating to the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.

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Eurofins Biolab is part of the international group of Eurofins laboratories, a worldwide leader in the provision of scientific-technical services to third parties. The company focuses its activity on the conductance of trials and analytical services required for the development, registry and lunching to the market of drugs, healthcare products, cosmetics and similar products, including, quality control activities and validation of production services. Its laboratory at the Barcelona Science Park is specialised in microbiology and molecular biology and its quality system has been granted the GMP, GLP and ISO 17025 (ENAC) accreditations, among other achievements and recognitions [+].

“Being part of a network such as the EU-NETVAL will increase our visibility, will help develop strategic relationships with customers and institutions and will open new opportunities for innovative projects and services in the area of expertise of our laboratory in vitro testing of topical toxicity (irritation and sensitization) mainly for cosmetics and health products. In addition it will allow us to be constantly updated on the latest technical, scientific and regulatory advances, as well as actively participate in the same definition, commissioning and validation of methods designed to have a major impact on European regulations, “said Luca Salvi, General Manager of Eurofins Biolab.

The EU-NETVAL network – coordinated by the GLP laboratory of in vitro alternative tests of the European Commission (EURL ECVAM GLP Test Facility)– was born with the mission to provide support to validation projects of the European Union Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing EEURL ECVAM), including identification of methods that have the potential to reduce, improve or replace animals used for scientific purposes. Another objective of the network is to contribute to the development of guidance documents, procedures, training materials and collaboration tools that facilitate the development, validation, proposal and acceptance of alternative methods.

Since last March 11 when the European Union ban on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals (and having completed the ten year time period as established in Directive 2003/15/CE), came into force, the EU-NETVAL network is called to play a key role in the translation of new tools and techniques arising from EU research initiatives on alternative test methods, reliable and relevant, and as a clearinghouse of information on the development of such methods.