AFSA  Launches Online Course to Eliminate Animal Testing

AFSA Launches Online Course to Eliminate Animal Testing

The Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration (AFSA) has launched a new online Master Class course aimed at eliminating animal testing in the cosmetics industry. The ten-module course trains scientists on how to test cosmetics and chemicals without using animals, promoting cruelty-free testing practices worldwide.

Debuting in 2023, the curriculum has already attracted 1,200 participants from roughly 70 countries. Dr. Catherine Willett, senior director of science and regulatory affairs at Humane Society International and principal coordinator of the AFSA Master Class, remarked, “Consumers and companies alike want to move away from painful and outdated animal tests, but learning more about the cutting-edge tools available in the animal-free toolbox, and how to use them to make safety decisions, can be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.”

Created with input from industry professionals, method developers, regulatory authorities, and animal protection experts, the course features real-world case studies and guides users through every stage of “next-generation risk assessment.” It culminates in advanced techniques like data integration to ensure robust consumer safety conclusions.

Dr. Willett added, “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.” These methodologies not only eliminate the need for painful animal-based testing but also provide more valid and reliable results concerning the safety of chemicals and products.

Dr. Julia H. Fentem, EVP of safety, environmental & regulatory science at Unilever, stated, “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.”

The AFSA Master Class receives contributions from 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.

Subscribe to our free newsletter to read the latest news and articles before they are published.