After harmonising the technical requirements for the registration of veterinary vaccine products to align them with VICH guidelines 41 and 44 and deleting the target animal batch safety test (TABST) from the European Pharmacopoeia for all veterinary vaccines – in force since 1st April 2013, resulting in a considerable reduction in testing on animals – the EDQM is pleased to announce that a new stage has been reached on the 3Rs way.