The European Union Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EURL ECVAM) has the following duties: coordination and promotion of the development and use of alternative methods, including in the areas of basic and applied research and regulatory testing; coordination of the validation of alternative approaches at EU level; acting as a focal point for the exchange of information on the development of alternative approaches; setting up, maintaining and managing public databases and information systems on alternative approaches and their state of development; and promotion of dialogue between legislators, regulators, and all relevant stakeholders, in particular, industry, biomedical scientists, consumer organizations and animal-welfare groups, with a view to the development, validation, regulatory acceptance, international recognition, and application of alternative approaches.