South Korea curbs abnormal toxicity tests, closing loopholes in animal testing ban
27 Sep 2022 --- The latest move by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety introduces an amendment to its biological standard and test method guidelines – to remove the requirement for abnormal toxicity tests. Although South Korea banned animal testing for cosmetics in 2018, the abnormal toxicity test left loopholes open.
Abnormal toxicity tests are carried out in-vivo, often in animals, as a batch quality control to detect potentially toxic reactions. This test is carried out before human use.
The Humane Society International calls testing on mice and guinea pigs an “outdated method” used for quality control of pharmaceutical and biological products.
Global push against animal tests
A year after the animal testing ban for cosmetics, Chemical Watch reported that South Korea’s cosmetic reform bill did not stop animal testing.
Abnormal toxicity tests are carried out in-vivo, often in animals.
“According to the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 4,141,433 animals were used for testing in 2020, up 11.5% compared to the previous year (3,712,380 in 2019),” shares the Humane Society International.
“This figure is a 43.8% increase compared to five years ago, when 2,878,907 animals were subjected to testing.”
Moreover, in 2020 Humane Society International found that more than 80% of South Koreans wanted an end to animal testing.
It shares that the World Health Organization guidelines recommended removing the abnormal toxicity test in 2018. It is no longer required in the European Union, the US or Canada. “The test can be waived for some products in Japan and India.”
Last year, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment introduced its “2030 Chemical Safety and Animal Welfare vision,” with a goal of more than 60% of chemical assessment data produced using non-animal methods.
Humane Society International propels action
Humane Society International shares that the abnormal toxicity test was introduced in 1950 using mice and guinea pigs. However, increasing scientific evidence shows its unreliability and worth for safety testing. 
In 2018, the World Health Organization guidelines recommended removing the abnormal toxicity test.
“We welcome this much-awaited amendment that does away with an obsolete animal test. This test was required for regulatory purposes despite evidence showing its lack of scientific value,” says Borami Seo, senior policy manager at Humane Society International.
“Korea has a demonstrated capacity to adopt and refine rapidly advancing technologies. With this important step, we hope Korea will move even faster, showing its commitment to developing new technologies and reforming regulatory guidelines with non-animal methods.”
The organization states that it has also received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to work with regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders to eliminate or replace animal regulations for human and veterinary products.
In related animal testing news, the EU petition to ban animal testing recently closed with 1,413,383 EU citizens signing the Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics’ End Animal Testing European Citizens’ Initiative, demanding an end to animal testing.
The American Chemical Society also highlighted that the US Food and Drug Administration wholly evaluated its animal testing requirement, thus impacting the cosmetics sector.
By Venya Patel
