Brazil Moves Toward the Replacement of Animal Experimentation

Abstract

In Brazil, efforts towards the regulatory acceptance and implementation of innovative methods to replace experimental animal use in various fields began to gather force in 2008, with the approval of Law No. 11,794/2008 (the Arouca Law). This law represented a milestone, as it created the National Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation (CONCEA) to deal with the ethical and legal issues related to the use of laboratory animals. In 2014, CONCEA put together a framework for expanding the implementation of non-animal methodologies for use in research and education. It also promoted the regulatory acceptance in Brazil of 24 test guidelines, including 15 in vitro approaches. It should be emphasised that, in Brazilian legislation, replacement is generally based on the toxicological endpoint and not on the category of product, as tends to be the case in other countries (e.g. cosmetics in the European Union). The resolution-dependent deadlines for the obligatory replacement of in vivo methods with the CONCEA-approved tests are 2019 and 2021. Brazil has advanced considerably towards the replacement of animal experimentation, and in certain aspects, this has been in a highly progressive manner. However, there is still a lot of work to be done, especially considering the current political scenario with reduced investment in research, development and innovation. The chronology of significant events following the approval of the Arouca Law, which have contributed to the promotion of the Three Rs alternatives in Brazil, will be examined.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Aging Potential of a Kalmia angustifolia Extract and Identification of Some Major Compounds

“…Few natural active ingredients have proven efficacy in reducing skin aging with exhaustive efficacy studies, which limits the development based on scientific evidence of skin care products that can significantly reduce skin aging. In vitro models are great tools for establishing products’ safety and efficacy in the cosmetic field, making it possible to avoid the use of animal models, which are very controversial and even banned or restricted in certain countries or states like the European Union, Canada, India, Brazil (seven states), New Zealand, Australia, and United States (California, Nevada, Illinois) [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a K. angustifolia extract using reconstructed skin substitutes in order to establish the potential use of K. angustifolia in cosmetics.…”

The influence of low-fidelity simulator training on canine peripheral venous puncture procedure

“…As these different protocols require the veterinarian to perform the entire procedure efficiently, training students in this procedure are essential [4,5]. Recently, in Brazil, the regulatory standard nº 38 of 17 April 2018, from the National Council for Animal Experimentation (CONCEA), declared that the use of live animals in demonstrative and observational classes is prohibited, indicating that it should be replaced by other teaching tools of sufficient quality to maintain and improve learning conditions [6].…”

Pushing the Partnership Forward

“…A second paper gives a useful overview of what is happening in Brazil right now, in terms of Brazilian legislation relating to the Three Rs and animal alternatives. 2 It highlights considerable advances made since the approval of the Arouca Law in 2008, with a summary of Three Rs-based Test Guidelines currently accepted for regulatory purposes in Brazil. Significant progress in the field is also illustrated by the number of worthy recipients of the Lush Prize over the past few years, in the Young Researcher, Lobbying, and Training categories.…”