Proefdiervrij

'Proefdiervrij' is the Dutch Foundation for Replacement of Animal Testing. Proefdiervrij aims at abolishing all experiments on animals in the Netherlands. Its focus is on the promotion of alternative methods of research. By means of public activities (such as petitions) and by bilateral dialogues Proefdiervrij seeks to raise awareness of the plight of laboratory animals. Proefdiervrij urges politicians, the scientific research community, and industries to abolish testing on animals altogether.

Better health protection

A new approach to risk assessment in the field of health protection, involving faster, cheaper and more targeted research, can potentially improve both human and animal health protection. In assessing human and animal health hazards connected to any substance, more targeted questions yield more adequate answers. The new approach to risk assessment also presents new market opportunities to young entrepreneurs involved in developing new risk assessment methods. Ultimately, the number of animals used in laboratory testing in order to establish health hazards, can be reduced by approximately 10 percent.

Here is an opportunity for many new small and middle-sized enterprises offering new risk assessment methods to satisfy a new demand. It will take vision and courage to change existing patterns and to ask different questions. If the Dutch government successfully takes the lead on this issue, in close cooperation with the main stakeholders, it could create a win-win situation: new opportunities for innovative businesses with global applications, better health protection, both leading to the replacement of suboptimal and increasingly disputed animal testing in health risk assessments.