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º£½Ç´óÉñ employs external facilities to conduct laboratory animal testing in order to

1) bring beneficial products to customers, and

2) maintain our commitment to safety, health, and the environment, and

3) remain in compliance with global regulatory requirements.

Our use of animals, in both product development and safety assessment, consistently reflects our commitment to the welfare and ethical treatment of these animals.

º£½Ç´óÉñ shares society's desire to increase the use of scientifically validated alternative methods that reduce, refine, or replace the use of animal models in research. º£½Ç´óÉñ are strong proponents of "intelligent" testing strategies, which minimize the use of animal testing by using a tiered approach to data collection.

• º£½Ç´óÉñ ensure that all studies involving animals comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and licensing requirements.
• º£½Ç´óÉñ conduct research only at facilities (if conducted at external research labs, º£½Ç´óÉñ needs to have a Master service agreement) that possess appropriate capabilities and trained, competent staff capable of humane animal care techniques. º£½Ç´óÉñ require that all studies be scientifically and ethically justified, and that every study be designed to avoid or minimize pain, discomfort, and distress. º£½Ç´óÉñ ensure the facilities we utilize employ measures that assess the structural and social environment of animals wherever practical and appropriate, such as animal enrichment devices, group housing with solid flooring, and opportunities for animals to interact and move around.
• º£½Ç´óÉñ utilize and support capabilities for internal and external tiered data development to complement, reduce or replace animal testing. This includes internal capabilities for extensive literature searching and computer modeling and use of in vitro assays (typically conducted with cultured cells, cell fractions, or bacteria) at external testing laboratories.
• If animal testing is mandatory, we reduce the number of animals.
• º£½Ç´óÉñ work toward the development, validation, and adoption of alternatives to animal testing through our participation in industry associations.
• º£½Ç´óÉñ actively participate in industrial consortia to minimize or eliminate duplicative testing.
• º£½Ç´óÉñ will not conduct research on great apes such as chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, or orangutans.

º£½Ç´óÉñ is confident that scientific advances in animal research and toxicology will enable us to further reduce our reliance on animal testing, while continuing to ensure product safety for humans and the environment.