MA S640

Prohibits manufacturers and contract testing facilities in Massachusetts from using traditional animal testing methods when valid alternative test methods exist for testing products, chemicals, or ingredients

Exempts medical research from the animal testing restrictions, including studies related to disease diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and development of biomedical products, devices, or pharmaceuticals

Requires the Commissioner of Public Health to establish standards for alternative test methods, considering OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals

Alternative test methods include computational toxicology, bioinformatics, high-throughput screening, in vitro studies, and systems biology

Regulations must be promulgated within 180 days of passage, with the main provisions taking effect 6 months after passage