**Intro: This training initiative is designed to promote cruelty-free testing as a global standard.
The Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration (AFSA) has launched a groundbreaking online Master Class designed to eliminate animal testing in the cosmetics industry. This ten-module course is specifically aimed at training scientists to adopt cruelty-free testing practices for cosmetics and chemicals, promoting global shifts toward more ethical testing methods.
The curriculum, which debuted in 2023, has already attracted over 1,200 participants from approximately 70 countries. AFSA Introduces Master Class on Safe Chemical Testing as a comprehensive resource to guide the industry away from animal testing. The course offers practical, hands-on training in using advanced non-animal models and computer simulations for safety assessments, ensuring that product testing can be both humane and scientifically sound.
Dr. Catherine Willett, senior director of science and regulatory affairs at Humane Society International and the principal coordinator of the AFSA Master Class, explained, “Consumers and companies alike want to move away from painful and outdated animal tests, but learning more about the cutting-edge tools available in the animal-free toolbox, and how to use them to make safety decisions, can be challenging.”
The course was developed with input from industry professionals, method developers, and experts in regulatory and animal protection fields. It features real-world case studies and walks participants through each stage of “next-generation risk assessment.” The curriculum culminates in advanced techniques like data integration, providing robust conclusions to ensure consumer safety. AFSA Introduces Master Class on Safe Chemical Testing to help companies adopt these advanced techniques while reducing reliance on traditional animal testing methods.
Willett further noted, “The AFSA Master Class demystifies animal-free safety assessment, making it easier for companies to replace rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs with advanced non-animal models and computer simulations.” This approach not only removes the need for painful animal-based tests but also delivers more accurate and reliable results regarding the safety of chemicals and products.
Dr. Julia H Fentem, EVP of safety, environmental, and regulatory science at Unilever, emphasized, “Our unique AFSA Master Class program is focused on the safety assessment of cosmetic products and ingredients without generating new animal data and covers all aspects of using non-animal tools and data for internal company decision-making as well as regulatory safety assessments.” AFSA Introduces Master Class on Safe Chemical Testing as part of its mission to transform industry practices and regulatory frameworks, ensuring that both safety and ethics are prioritized.
The AFSA Master Class is supported by a wide range of member organizations, including Avon Products Inc., DSM-Firmenich, Givaudan, Humane Society International, Institute for In Vitro Sciences, International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., L’Oréal, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and more, all working together to promote the future of cruelty-free testing in the cosmetics industry.
