[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45201-45202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18239]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of 
Alternative Methods Biennial Progress Report: 2012-2013; Availability 
of Report

SUMMARY: The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Interagency Center for 
the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) announces 
the availability of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the 
Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) Biennial Progress Report: 
2012-2013. This report describes ICCVAM and ICCVAM agency activities 
during the period from January 2012 through December 2013 and was 
prepared in accordance with requirements of the ICCVAM Authorization 
Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l-3).

ADDRESSES: The report is available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/iccvam-bien.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Warren S. Casey, Director, 
NICEATM; email: [email protected]; telephone: (919) 316-4729.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 established ICCVAM 
as a permanent interagency committee of the National Institute of 
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) under NICEATM. ICCVAM's mission 
is to facilitate development, validation, and regulatory acceptance of 
new and revised regulatory test methods that reduce, refine, or replace 
the use of animals in testing while maintaining and promoting 
scientific quality and the protection of human health, animal health, 
and the environment.
    A provision of the ICCVAM Authorization Act states that ICCVAM 
shall prepare ``reports to be made available to the public on its 
progress under this Act.'' The first report was to be completed within 
12 months of enactment of the Act, and subsequent reports were to be 
biennially thereafter. The sixth report is now available, and 
summarizes ICCVAM activities and accomplishments for the calendar years 
2012 and 2013.
    Summary of Report Contents: The main body of the ICCVAM Biennial 
Progress Report: 2012-2013 includes three chapters:
     Chapter 1 provides background information on ICCVAM and 
its role in coordinating evaluations of alternative

[[Page 45202]]

toxicological methods and summarizes recent changes in the vision and 
direction of ICCVAM.
     Chapter 2 describes activities of ICCVAM and the 15 ICCVAM 
member agencies relevant to the development and validation of 
alternative test methods for eye safety testing, biologics and vaccine 
testing, development of tests to identify potential skin sensitizers, 
and other areas.
     Chapter 3 describes ICCVAM outreach, communication, and 
collaborative activities.
    Availability of Report: The report is available as an electronic 
PDF document at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/iccvam-bien. All past 
ICCVAM annual and biennial reports are also available on this page.
    Background Information on ICCVAM and NICEATM: ICCVAM is an 
interagency committee composed of representatives from 15 Federal 
regulatory and research agencies that require, use, generate, or 
disseminate toxicological and safety testing information. ICCVAM 
conducts technical evaluations of new, revised, and alternative safety 
testing methods and integrated testing strategies with regulatory 
applicability, and promotes the scientific validation and regulatory 
acceptance of testing methods that more accurately assess the safety 
and hazards of chemicals and products and replace, reduce, or refine 
(enhance animal well-being and lessen or avoid pain and distress) 
animal use.
    The ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l-3) establishes 
ICCVAM as a permanent interagency committee of NIEHS and provides the 
authority for ICCVAM involvement in activities relevant to the 
development of alternative test methods. ICCVAM acts to ensure that new 
and revised test methods are validated to meet the needs of Federal 
agencies, increase the efficiency and effectiveness and Federal agency 
test method review, and optimize utilization of scientific expertise 
outside the Federal Government. Additional information about ICCVAM can 
be found at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/iccvam.
    NICEATM provides support for ICCVAM and conducts data analyses, 
workshops, independent validation studies, and other activities to 
assess new, revised, and alternative test methods and strategies. 
NICEATM and ICCVAM work collaboratively to evaluate new and improved 
test methods and strategies applicable to the needs of U.S. Federal 
agencies. Additional information about NICEATM can be found at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/niceatm.

    Dated: July 29, 2014.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-18239 Filed 8-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P