This document summarizes Korea's growing interest in non-animal testing and efforts to end cosmetics testing on animals. It outlines Korea's regulations around animal testing from the 1990s to present and the government bodies involved. It also discusses Korea's increasing development of alternative test methods, including the establishment of KoCVAM in 2009 and CAMSEC in 2013. Finally, it describes efforts to revise laws to ban cosmetics animal testing and increase public awareness campaigns around companies' non-animal testing policies.

1. KOREA’S FAST MOVING INTEREST
IN NON-ANIMAL TESTING AND
EFFORT TO END COSMETICS
TESTING USING ANIMALS
Borami Seo
Policy Manager
동물보호시민단체 카라 KARA

2. Contents
 Animal Testing – Regulations
 Replacement of animal testing
 Replacement of animal testing – Cosmetics & Non-Cosmetics
 Effort to end cosmetics testing using animals

3. Animal Testing – Regulations
Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs
1991 Animal Protection Act
2006 – APA: Animals used in Experiments
2013 – revision of the Act, attempt to
ban cosmetics animal testing
Promotion of Alternatives to Animal Testing Act ??
Ministry of Health and
Welfare
2005 Bioethics &
Biosafety Act
Ministry of Food and
Drug Safety
2000 Cosmetics Act
2008 Lab Animal Act

4. Replacement of Animal Testing
1985 Korean Association for
Laboratory Animal Science
1997 Project on In vitro development
for the safety evaluation of skin product

5. Replacement of Animal Testing
2006 Research Society for Alternatives to
Animal Experiments → National Society
2008 Laboratory Animal Act established
2009 KoCVAM established
EU Announcement
WC7 Japan
1985 Korean Association for
Laboratory Animal Science
1997 Project on In vitro development
for the safety evaluation of skin product

6. Replacement of Animal Testing
2006 Research Society for Alternatives to
Animal Experiments → National Society
2008 Laboratory Animal Act established
2009 KoCVAM established
1985 Korean Association for
Laboratory Animal Science
1997 Project on In vitro development
for the safety evaluation of skin product
2011 Joined ICATM
2013 The Centre of Alternative Methods for
Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics – CAMSEC
2013 MFDS investment in establishing
the nation’s first cetre for the development
and validation of alternatives to animal testing
2014 Symposium on in silico by Korea Institute
of Technology
EU Announcement
WC7 Japan
2013 Avison Biomedical Research Centre
Biggest animal testing facility in Asia

7. Replacement of Animal Testing
 Replacement for Cosmetics
 The Centre of Alternative Methods for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics
Led by Science Advisor of KoCVAM, Prof. Youngjin Chun
 Only cosmetics company investing on replacement – Amore Pacific
 Limitation of the role of KoCVAM
 Replacement for Non-Cosmetics
 KIST(Korea Institute of Science and Technology)
2013 3 year-project: Multi-organ toxicity assessment using molecular
screening and omix-technology
Currently preparing a project proposal to Ministry of Sciences, ICT &
Future Planning
 KIT Korea Institute of Toxicology
2014 Symposium: In silico models for predictive toxicology

8. Effort to end cosmetics animal testing
Revision of Animal Protection Act in 2013
- Animal Experiments part with Congresswoman Junglim Moon
 2012 Labelling bill proposed
by Congresswoman Moon
 Proposed draft for APA
- to end cosmetics animal testing for both
ingredients and finished products
- to encourage government’s support for
alternatives
 ‘Industries are expecting the ban’
but WHEN???

9. Effort to end cosmetics animal testing
Public Awareness Campaign
Working with cosmetics brands & public engagement
List of companies confirming non-animal testing policy

10. Development of alternative test methods in Korea
 Alternative test methods for reproductive and developmental toxicology
 In vitro model of granuloma-like cell aggregates associated with early host immune responses
against Mycobacterium massiliense infection
 Alternative method for efficacy tests using in vivo imaging tools; reduction and refinement of 3R in
animal use
International development of alternative test methods
 Current trends of research and development of alternative methods through WC9 review
 Cases of OECD guideline development by JaCVAM
 Toxicogenomics as alternative of traditional toxicological endpoints
Development of alternative skin test methods
 In vitro percutaneous absorption of benzophenone-3, a UV filter
 3D cell culture models to study cancer
 Strategy of immortalization using viral vectors to extend life-span in primary cultured cells
 Keratinocyte-derived IL-24 as a positive feedback regulator of epidermal inflammation and its
implication in in vitro skin safety testing methods

11. Is One R
the new Three Rs?

12. Thank you!
Photo: Christina Dodkin