S.L. 439.13 Art. 48NationalReference Laboratory and alternative approaches.

(1) The Department shall contribute with other competent authorities in other Member States to the development and validation of alternative approaches which may provide the same or higher levels of information as those obtained in procedures using animals:

Provided that such approaches do not involve the use of animals, or the use of fewer animals, or which entail less painful procedures on animals, and the Department shall take such other steps as it considers appropriate to encourage and promote research in this field.

(2) The Department shall, at national level, encourage and promote the development and validation of alternative approaches and the dissemination of information thereon.

(3) Such validation studies shall be carried out by the National Reference Laboratory referred to in Part A of Schedule VIII. The tasks of such Laboratory are established under Part B of the Schedule VIII.