Division Preface

Government and industry are concerned about the quality of non-clinical health and environmental safety studies upon which hazard assessments are based. As a consequence, OECD Member States have established criteria for the performance of these studies.

To avoid different schemes of implementation that could impede international trade in chemicals, OECD Member States have pursued international harmonisation of test methods and good laboratory practice. In 1979 and 1980 an international group of experts, established under the special programme on the control of chemicals, developed the ‘OECD principles of good laboratory practice’ (GLP), utilising common managerial and scientific practices and experience from various national and international sources. These principles of GLP were adopted by the OECD Council in 1981, as an Annex to the Council Decision on the mutual acceptance of data in the assessment of chemicals (C(81) 30 (final)).

In 1995 and 1996, a new group of experts was formed to revise and update the principles. The current document is the result of the consensus reached by that group. It cancels and replaces the original principles adopted in 1981.

The purpose of these principles of good laboratory practice is to promote the development of quality test data. Comparable quality of test data forms the basis for the mutual acceptance of data among countries. If individual countries can confidently rely on test data developed in other countries, duplicative testing can be avoided, thereby saving time and resources. The application of these principles should help to avoid the creation of technical barriers to trade, and further improve the protection of human health and the environment.