REACH news: European ombudsman takes up PETA complaint

Animal group claims European Chemical Agency guilty of maladministration

2013-01-31

(Press-News.org) London – In response to a complaint by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the European Ombudsman has launched an inquiry into the actions of the European Union (EU) agency responsible for the administration of the REACH chemical-testing program, which is expected to consume millions of animals in toxicity tests. PETA's complaint, submitted in July 2012, alleges that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is not properly investigating cases in which animal testing could be avoided under the rules of REACH. PETA maintains that evidence derived from public documents and correspondence with the agency demonstrates that ECHA is not taking the necessary steps to ensure fulfilment of REACH's legal requirement that animal testing be conducted only as a "last resort."

The REACH Regulation (1907/2006/EU) makes clear in recitals, articles and annexes that animal tests must be avoided whenever possible, but in 2011 the agency's report "The Use of Alternatives to Testing on Animals for the REACH Regulation" showed that tens of thousands of animals were used in tests that could have been avoided under REACH's own rules. These tests included 135 skin-irritation studies conducted after a non-animal replacement had been validated and approved for use under REACH and 107 studies conducted without prior submission and approval of a testing proposal.

In response to the report, PETA contacted ECHA and the European Commission to seek assurances that all such possible violations of the requirements were being investigated by the agency and/or reported to relevant national authorities. PETA's enquiries have revealed that ECHA is not taking action to investigate all the 107 tests on animals conducted without test proposals, does not directly inform member state authorities of all possible violations of last-resort requirements and does not assess information dossiers submitted by chemical companies to evaluate whether animal tests undertaken for REACH could have been avoided.

In its complaint, PETA argued that in failing to properly evaluate whether animal tests had been conducted as a last resort in accordance with REACH's requirements, ECHA was guilty of maladministration. It is this complaint which the Ombudsman took up in December.

"PETA alleges that animals may have been poisoned and killed in tests that should never have taken place," says PETA UK Science Adviser Dr Gilly Stoddart. "We are relieved that the Ombudsman has launched an inquiry, as the lives of millions of animals are at stake. We trust that the Ombudsman will share our view and compel the agency to fulfil its obligations."

### Copies of PETA's complaint and relevant correspondence are available on request.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Researchers harness nature to produce the fuel of the future

2013-01-31

Hydrogen has tremendous potential as an eco-friendly fuel, but it is expensive to produce. Now researchers at Princeton University and Rutgers University have moved a step closer to harnessing nature to produce hydrogen for us. The team, led by Princeton chemistry professor Annabella Selloni, takes inspiration from bacteria that make hydrogen from water using enzymes called di-iron hydrogenases. Selloni's team uses computer models to figure out how to incorporate the magic of these enzymes into the design of practical synthetic catalysts that humans can use to produce ...

Patients can emit small, influenza-containing particles into the air during routine care

2013-01-31

[EMBARGOED FOR JAN. 31, 2013] A new study suggests that patients with influenza can emit small virus-containing particles into the surrounding air during routine patient care, potentially exposing health care providers to influenza. Published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, the findings raise the possibility that current influenza infection control recommendations may not always be adequate to protect providers from influenza during routine patient care in hospitals. Werner E. Bischoff, MD, PhD, and colleagues from the Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina ...

Social networking: Gen Xers connect online as often as they socialize in person

2013-01-31

ANN ARBOR--- Young adults in Generation X are as likely to connect with friends, family and co-workers online as they are in person, according to a University of Michigan study. In a typical month, adults in their late 30s report that they engaged in about 75 face-to-face contacts or conversations, compared to about 74 electronic contracts through personal emails or social media. "Given the speed of emerging technologies, it is likely that electronic contacts will continue to grow in the years ahead, eventually exceeding face-to-face interactions," says Jon D. Miller, ...

Debts That Remain after a Bankruptcy

2013-01-31

Debts that remain after a bankruptcy If you have had to file bankruptcy recently due to the sluggish economy, you're not alone. Bankruptcy has many benefits, but the main reason to file is to receive a discharge of your debts. Normally, once you receive a discharge, you are under no further legal obligation to pay the debt. Although the bankruptcy discharge is a powerful tool against many types of debt, such a medical bills and credit card debt, there are certain types of debt that cannot be discharged in a bankruptcy. Nondischargeable debts To a certain extent, ...

Should California Grant Driver's Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants?

2013-01-31

Should California grant driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants? Whatever your position on the issue, there is no denying that undocumented immigrants make up a significant portion of California's population. Like other Californians, many of these immigrants need to drive in order to run errands, take their children to school or go to work. However, because they are residing in the United States illegally, they are not eligible to get driver's licenses. Increasingly, many legislators and safety advocates in California are becoming concerned that these unlicensed ...

Study Reveals Thousands Of Preventable Surgical Errors Occur Annually

2013-01-31

Study reveals thousands of preventable surgical errors occur annually Placing your well-being in the care of a medical professional is always somewhat unnerving, requiring a degree of trust in another's abilities not often needed in our daily lives. Consequently, when a physician's actions are negligent and result in entirely preventable harm, we understandably seek avenues to recover. Unfortunately, a recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has disclosed the frequency with which surgeons are guilty of making preventable errors while ...

How To Protect A Business From The Fallout Of Divorce

2013-01-31

How to protect a business from the fallout of divorce Marriage and business often go hand-in-hand. Frequently in this economy, one spouse or both spouses may own their own business or both spouses may even own a business together. The creation of a successful business requires a lot time and hard work and is likely to be the most important financial asset in a marriage. Unfortunately, more than half of first marriages in the United States end in divorce as do the majority of second and third marriages. Therefore, divorce and business also go hand-in-hand, and business ...

Understanding The Divorce Process In Florida

2013-01-31

Understanding the divorce process in Florida Each state has its own rules for divorce, and as a result there are a lot of myths about the requirements of filing a divorce. The state of Florida no longer requires fault as a ground for divorce, and therefore the only requirement for a Florida resident to dissolve his or her marriage is to prove the marriage is "irretrievably broken." In Florida the official term for divorce is "dissolution of marriage," and either spouse may file for dissolution. While Florida is a no-fault state for the purposes ...

If You Need Disability Benefits, You May Be In For A Long Wait

2013-01-31

If you need disability benefits, you may be in for a long wait The stress of living with a disability can be overwhelming, but the added stress of dealing with the system to collect Social Security Disability payments can make it even worse. A backlog of cases has significantly increased the amount of time that applicants have to wait to get their benefits approved. Recent reports indicate that applications for Social Security retirement and disability benefits have skyrocketed in recent years. This is likely due to the growing number of baby boomers who are reaching ...

The Division Of A Military Pension In A Divorce

2013-01-31

The division of a military pension in a divorce A married couple with one or both spouses serving in the military can experience special challenges. There are often children involved, and one spouse may have to postpone or forgo education or employment to care for the children full-time while the other spouse is deployed. In addition, frequent moves and the stress of serving in the military can strain even the strongest relationships. In fact, statistics from the Department of Defense show there were almost 30,000 military divorces in 2011, which is the highest rate ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

AI finds undiagnosed liver disease in early stages

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announce new research fellowship in malaria genomics in honor of professor Dominic Kwiatkowski