---
kind: "range"
citation: "42 U.S.C. §§ 285l–2–285l–5"
title: "42"
from: "285l–2"
to: "285l–5"
count: 4
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/285l-2..285l-5"
---

# §285l–2. Definitions


In [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title:

- (1) **Alternative test method—** The term “alternative test method” means a test method that—
  - (A) includes any new or revised test method; and
  - (B)
    - (i) reduces the number of animals required;
    - (ii) refines procedures to lessen or eliminate pain or distress to animals, or enhances animal well-being; or
    - (iii) replaces animals with non-animal systems or one animal species with a phylogenetically lower animal species, such as replacing a mammal with an invertebrate.
- (2) **ICCVAM test recommendation—** The term “ICCVAM test recommendation” means a summary report prepared by the ICCVAM characterizing the results of a scientific expert peer review of a test method.

# §285l–3. Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods

- (a) **In general—** With respect to the [interagency coordinating committee](/usc/42/7703.md?p=8) that is known as the [Interagency Coordinating Committee](/usc/42/7703.md?p=8) on the Validation of Alternative Methods (referred to in [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title as “ICCVAM”) and that was established by the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for purposes of [section 285l–1(b)](/usc/42/285l–1.md?p=b) of this title, the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the Institute shall designate such committee as a permanent [interagency coordinating committee](/usc/42/7703.md?p=8) of the Institute under the National Toxicology [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods. [Sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title may not be construed as affecting the authorities of such [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) regarding ICCVAM that were in effect on the day before December 19, 2000, except to the extent inconsistent with [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title.
- (b) **Purposes—** The purposes of the ICCVAM shall be to—
  - (1) increase the efficiency and effectiveness of [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) test method review;
  - (2) eliminate unnecessary duplicative efforts and share experiences between Federal regulatory agencies;
  - (3) optimize utilization of scientific expertise outside the Federal Government;
  - (4) ensure that new and revised test methods are validated to meet the needs of [Federal agencies](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2); and
  - (5) reduce, refine, or replace the use of animals in testing, where feasible.
- (c) **Composition—** The ICCVAM shall be composed of the heads of the following [Federal agencies](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) (or their designees):
  - (1) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease [Registry](/usc/42/6341.md?p=6).
  - (2) [Consumer Product](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) Safety [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1).
  - (3) Department of Agriculture.
  - (4) Department of Defense.
  - (5) Department of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7).
  - (6) Department of the Interior.
  - (7) Department of Transportation.
  - (8) Environmental Protection Agency.
  - (9) Food and [Drug](/usc/42/282.md?p=j-1-A-vii) Administration.
  - (10) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
  - (11) National Institutes of Health.
  - (12) National Cancer Institute.
  - (13) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
  - (14) National Library of Medicine.
  - (15) Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
  - (16) Any other agency that develops, or employs tests or test data using animals, or regulates on the basis of the use of animals in toxicity testing.
- (d) **Scientific Advisory Committee—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences shall establish a Scientific [Advisory Committee](/usc/42/7703.md?p=9) (referred to in [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title as the “SAC”) to advise ICCVAM and the National Toxicology [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods regarding ICCVAM activities. The activities of the SAC shall be subject to provisions of [chapter 10](/usc/5/chptI-ch10.md) of title 5.
  - (2) **Membership—**
    - (A) **In general—** The SAC shall be composed of the following voting members:
      - (i) At least one knowledgeable [representative](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) having a history of expertise, development, or evaluation of new or revised or [alternative test methods](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=1) from each of—
        - (I) the personal care, pharmaceutical, industrial chemicals, or agriculture industry;
        - (II) any other industry that is regulated by the [Federal agencies](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) specified in [subsection (c)](#c); and
        - (III) a national animal protection organization established under [section 501(c)(3) of title 26](/usc/26/501.md?p=c-3).
      - (ii) [Representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) (selected by the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) from an academic institution, a [State](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-14) government agency, an international regulatory body, or any [corporation](/usc/42/2296b–7.md?p=1) developing or marketing new or revised or alternative test methodologies, including contract [laboratories](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10).
    - (B) **Nonvoting ex officio members—** The membership of the SAC shall, in addition to voting members under [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A), include as nonvoting ex officio members the agency heads specified in [subsection (c)](#c) (or their designees).
- (e) **Duties—** The ICCVAM shall, consistent with the purposes described in [subsection (b)](#b), carry out the following functions:
  - (1) Review and evaluate new or revised or [alternative test methods](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=1), including batteries of tests and test screens, that may be acceptable for specific regulatory uses, including the coordination of technical reviews of proposed new or revised or [alternative test methods](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=1) of interagency interest.
  - (2) Facilitate appropriate interagency and international harmonization of acute or chronic toxicological test protocols that encourage the reduction, refinement, or replacement of animal test methods.
  - (3) Facilitate and provide guidance on the development of validation criteria, validation studies and processes for new or revised or [alternative test methods](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=1) and help facilitate the acceptance of such scientifically valid test methods and awareness of accepted test methods by [Federal agencies](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) and other stakeholders.
  - (4) Submit [ICCVAM test recommendations](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2) for the test method reviewed by the ICCVAM, through expeditious transmittal by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) (or the designee of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)), to each appropriate [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2), along with the identification of specific agency guidelines, recommendations, or [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) for a test method, including batteries of tests and test screens, for chemicals or class of chemicals within a regulatory framework that may be appropriate for scientific improvement, while seeking to reduce, refine, or replace animal test methods.
  - (5) Consider for review and evaluation, petitions received from the public that—
    - (A) identify a specific regulation, recommendation, or guideline regarding a regulatory mandate; and
    - (B) recommend new or revised or [alternative test methods](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=1) and provide valid scientific evidence of the potential of the test method.
  - (6) Make available to the public final [ICCVAM test recommendations](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2) to appropriate [Federal agencies](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) and the responses from the agencies regarding such recommendations.
  - (7) Prepare reports to be made available to the public on its progress under [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title. The first report shall be completed not later than 12 months after December 19, 2000, and subsequent reports shall be completed biennially thereafter.

# §285l–4. Federal agency action

- (a) **Identification of tests—** With respect to each [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) carrying out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that requires or recommends acute or chronic toxicological testing, such agency shall, not later than 180 days after receiving an [ICCVAM test recommendation](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2), identify and forward to the ICCVAM any relevant test method specified in a regulation or industry-wide guideline which specifically, or in practice requires, recommends, or encourages the use of an animal acute or chronic toxicological test method for which the [ICCVAM test recommendation](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2) may be added or substituted.
- (b) **Alternatives—** Each [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) carrying out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall promote and encourage the development and use of alternatives to animal test methods (including batteries of tests and test screens), where appropriate, for the purpose of complying with Federal statutes, [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d), guidelines, or recommendations (in each instance, and for each chemical class) if such test methods are found to be effective for generating data, in an amount and of a scientific value that is at least equivalent to the data generated from existing tests, for [hazard](/usc/42/5165f.md?p=a-3) identification, dose-response assessment, or risk assessment purposes.
- (c) **Test method validation—** Each [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) carrying out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall ensure that any new or revised acute or chronic toxicity test method, including animal test methods and alternatives, is determined to be valid for its proposed use prior to requiring, recommending, or encouraging the application of such test method.
- (d) **Review—** Not later than 180 days after receipt of an [ICCVAM test recommendation](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2), a [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) carrying out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall review such recommendation and notify the ICCVAM in writing of its findings.
- (e) **Recommendation adoption—** Each [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) carrying out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [subsection (a)](#a), or its specific regulatory [unit](/usc/42/1395w–114b.md?p=g-2) or [units](/usc/42/1395w–114b.md?p=g-2), shall adopt the [ICCVAM test recommendation](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2) unless such [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) determines that—
  - (1) the [ICCVAM test recommendation](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2) is not adequate in terms of biological relevance for the regulatory goal authorized by that agency, or mandated by Congress;
  - (2) the [ICCVAM test recommendation](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2) does not [generate](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=8) data, in an amount and of a scientific value that is at least equivalent to the data generated prior to such recommendation, for the appropriate [hazard](/usc/42/5165f.md?p=a-3) identification, dose-response assessment, or risk assessment purposes as the current test method recommended or required by that agency;
  - (3) the agency does not employ, recommend, or require testing for that class of chemical or for the recommended test endpoint; or
  - (4) the [ICCVAM test recommendation](/usc/42/285l–2.md?p=2) is unacceptable for satisfactorily fulfilling the test needs for that particular agency and its respective congressional mandate.

# §285l–5. Application

- (a) **Application—** [Sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title shall not apply to research, including research performed using biotechnology techniques, or research related to the [causes](/usc/42/9908.md?p=c-2), diagnosis, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), control, or prevention of physical or mental diseases or impairments of humans or animals.
- (b) **Use of test methods—** Nothing in [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title shall prevent a [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) from retaining final authority for incorporating the test methods recommended by the ICCVAM in the manner determined to be appropriate by such [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) or regulatory body.
- (c) **Limitation—** Nothing in [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title shall be construed to require a [manufacturer](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=3) that is currently not required to perform animal testing to perform such tests. Nothing in [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title shall be construed to require a [manufacturer](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=3) to perform redundant endpoint specific testing.
- (d) **Submission of tests and data—** Nothing in [sections 285l–2 to 285l–5](/usc/42/285l–2..285l–5.md) of this title precludes a party from submitting a test method or scientific data directly to a [Federal agency](/usc/42/300j–6.md?p=d-2) for use in a regulatory [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).