The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the
Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM)
ICCVAM is an interagency committee composed of representatives from 15 U.S.
Federal regulatory and research agencies that require, use, generate, or disseminate toxicological and safety testing information
used to determine the safety or potential adverse health effects of chemicals and products to which
workers and consumers may be exposed.
The ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l-3) established ICCVAM as a permanent
interagency committee of NIEHS under NICEATM. The committee was originally organized by NIEHS in 1997 in collaboration with the other 14
Federal agencies.
Read the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 [PDF]
ICCVAM conducts technical evaluations of new, revised, and alternative safety testing methods and strategies
with regulatory applicability.
ICCVAM also promotes the scientific validation and regulatory acceptance of safety testing
methods and strategies that more accurately assess the safety and health hazards of chemicals and products and that
reduce, refine, or replace animal use.
Since 1998, NICEATM, ICCVAM, and ICCVAM member agencies have contributed to the national and international regulatory acceptance of 63
alternative safety-testing methods, including 38 that do not use live animals.
View summary of regulatory acceptance of alternative toxicological methods
NICEATM administers ICCVAM and provides scientific and operational support for
ICCVAM technical evaluations and related activities. View current status of ongoing test method
validation studies and evaluation projects.
ICCVAM depends on stakeholders with appropriate capabilities and resources to carry out
alternative test method research, development, and validation studies, and to submit the results to
ICCVAM for evaluation. Following comprehensive test method evaluations, ICCVAM develops
recommendations on scientific validity of new and modified test methods, and forwards these to
regulatory agencies for acceptance decisions as required by law.
The ICCVAM evaluation process incorporates a high level of transparency. Our process is designed to provide
opportunities and options for stakeholder involvement, including submission of public comments
and public participation in peer review and advisory committee meetings. Please contact
NICEATM for more information.
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