ZEBET
The ZEBET is the " Z entralstelle to E rfassung and B EVALUATION of E rsatz- and supplement to animal testing" at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). It was founded in 1989 by the federal government with the aim of restricting the use of animals for scientific purposes to what is absolutely necessary and developing alternatives to animal experiments. Since 1994 she has been advised by a commission made up of representatives from science and industry, animal welfare organizations and state authorities.
Alternative methods to animal experiments
ZEBET researches, develops and validates alternative methods in its own laboratory. The alternative methods are mainly developed for the area of legally prescribed toxicological test procedures.
So far, ZEBET has developed alternative methods to test the following potentials of substances:
- phototoxicity: a cell culture test can be used to check whether a substance is activated by sunlight and thus has a toxic effect on the body.
- the toxicity to skin and eyes: In order to test the skin and eye compatibility of substances, reconstructed human skin can be used instead of rabbits.
- Developmental toxicity using embryonic stem cells: Embryonic stem cells can be used to test whether chemicals and pharmaceuticals can damage embryos when used during pregnancy.
When developing alternative methods, ZEBET relies on the "3R principle" of scientific animal welfare:
- Replace - Avoidance of animal testing through the use of alternative methods
- Reduce - reducing the number of test animals to the minimum
- Refine - reducing the suffering of laboratory animals
This definition corresponds to the "3Rs principle" first formulated in 1959 by British scientists William Russell and Rex Burch.
Research funding and international cooperation
ZEBET works with national, international and supranational bodies such as the EU Commission, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) and the International Organization for Standardization ( ISO ). This collaboration aims to scientifically evaluate alternative methods and to promote their recognition and implementation in laws and guidelines.
In addition to developing alternative methods in its own laboratory, the BfR promotes innovative approaches to alternatives to animal experiments at German universities and research institutes. Since the start of this funding program in 1990, more than 100 research projects have been supported.
Advice on questions of scientific animal welfare
One of the tasks of ZEBET is to answer inquiries from representatives of science and industry or from the general public. She advises the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and other federal ministries as well as state authorities and the EU Commission. In addition, ZEBET supports the authorities of the federal states in checking the indispensability of animal experiments.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Brochure "20 Years of Zebet" http://www.bfr.bund.de/de/zebet-1433.html