Alternative Methods
at BASF
As the world's leading chemical company, we have a special responsibility towards people and the environment. We also assume this responsibility by practicing "Responsible Care" in animal testing. We are researching intensively into innovative alternative methods of reducing, refining or replacing animal experiments.
Before we place new products on the market, we subject them to all the necessary ecological and toxicological tests and register them with the authorities. International and national directives and regulations on the safety testing of chemicals and crop protection products also require animal experiments for this purpose.
We are constantly searching for ways of reducing, refining and replacing the legally required animal experiments. About one third of all toxicological studies at BASF are already performed using these replacement and supplementary methods. With our research into alternative methods, we are a trailblazer in the chemical industry.
News
BASF subsidiary Metanomics Health launches MetaMap®ToxJun. 06, 2012
van Ravenzwaay appointed associated professor
Jun. 01, 2012
Dr. Bennard van Ravenzwaay, Head of Experimental Toxicology and Ecology at BASF, has been appointed Associate Professor of Toxicology at Wageningen University (Netherlands). His activities focus on extending existing cooperation activities.
"As a sustainably operating company, we take our responsibility towards animal welfare seriously. We proactively develop innovative alternative methods that reduce animal experiments, make them less stressful for the animals by using refined methods, or replace them completely. They also help us to identify toxicological mechanisms ealier and more efficiently."
Dr. Tzutzuy Ramirez
Hernandez,
Development of
Alternative Methods
Alternative Methods in Use
We have already been using alternative methods in routine testing for many years.
Alternative Methods under Development
We are developing and evaluating alternative methods to allow us to reduce, refine or completely replace even more animal experiments in future.
