Ministry of Environment to Build Korea's First Public Animal Alternative Testing Facility

The Ministry of Environment has begun construction of the nation’s first public animal alternative testing facility. This initiative aims to advance animal welfare and proactively respond to domestic and international chemical regulations.

On May 16, the Ministry of Environment held a groundbreaking ceremony for the animal alternative testing facility at the Korea Environment Corporation in Seo-gu, Incheon. Animal alternative testing refers to methods that do not use animals, use the minimum number of animals, or reduce animal suffering when verifying the harmfulness of chemicals. These methods actively utilize human cells (tissues), artificial organs, and computer programs.

This is the first time an animal alternative testing facility is being established under public leadership. The first animal alternative testing facility in Korea was built by the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) in Hwasun, Jeonnam in 2016. Aside from this, most facilities are general animal testing facilities, with 501 in operation as of 2023.

The Ministry of Environment explained that the animal alternative testing facility will use artificial organs, three-dimensional tissue models, and computer prediction models to conduct toxicity assessments. The ministry also plans to establish an education and training center to teach university graduates, specialized graduate school students, and employees of testing institutions. Technologies secured in the public sector will be transferred to the private sector to help domestic companies obtain international certification.

The total area will reach 7,499 square meters. A total of 33.4 billion won will be invested, with completion targeted for October next year.

The reason for building the animal alternative testing facility is to respond to domestic and international regulations. Major advanced countries are preparing various regulatory bills based on negative perceptions of animal testing. The European Union already banned the distribution of cosmetics tested on animals in 2013, and the United States recently announced plans to gradually phase out animal testing in the drug development process. Korea has also set a goal to convert more than 60% of all toxicity test data to alternative testing methods by 2030.

This also addresses ethical concerns. According to the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, there are 4.58 million laboratory animals in Korea, a rapid increase from 3.72 million five years ago. In particular, 2.01 million animals, or 49.1%, were used in the highest-grade experiments that cause extreme pain, distress, or unavoidable stress. The Ministry of Environment explained that the completion of the animal alternative testing facility will help reduce the number of laboratory animals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment is operating the “Animal Alternative Testing Awareness Week” until May 23. On the afternoon of May 16, a “Public-Private Meeting to Promote Animal Alternative Testing” will be held in the Korea Environment Corporation conference room, and on May 20, the “Animal Alternative Testing Promotion Workshop” will take place at the LW Convention Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Lee Byunghwa, Vice Minister of Environment, stated, “The groundbreaking of this animal alternative testing facility is an important step toward an era that protects both animal welfare and public health,” adding, “We will do our utmost to implement related policies so that Korea can also become a global leader in advanced testing technologies.”