tiered approach
A way of organising toxicology assessments to maximise efficiency and minimise the use of animals. It involves a hierarchy (tiers) of tests, starting with those that use existing information or simple biological methods before moving onto tests using cells and eventually live animals only as necessary
In food safety, a tiered approach is a step-by-step method for assessing risks, starting with simple, low-cost, or conservative tests and moving to more detailed and complex studies only if needed. This way, resources are used efficiently, and unnecessary testing on animals is avoided.
EFSA uses tiered approaches to evaluate chemicals, contaminants, and new food products. For example, it may start with basic exposure estimates or in vitro tests, then proceed to animal studies or advanced modelling only if the first-tier results suggest a potential risk. This method helps EFSA make efficient, science-based decisions while minimizing animal testing and focusing on substances that may actually represent a risk.