The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) were first developed by an Expert Group on GLP established in 1978 under the Special Programme on the Control of Chemicals, which were formally recommended for use in Member countries by the OECD Council in 1981. Those Principles of GLP have been developed to promote the quality and validity of test data used for determining the safety of chemicals and chemicals products. Its principles must be followed by test facilities carrying out non-clinical health and environmental safety studies on test items contained in pharmaceutical products, pesticide products, cosmetic products, veterinary drugs, as well as food additives, feed additives, and industrial chemicals. The non-clinical safety data are to be submitted to national authorities for the purposes of assessment of chemicals and other uses relating to the protection of man and the environment. In addition, the issue of data quality has an important international dimension. If regulatory authorities in countries can rely on safety test data developed abroad, duplicative testing can be avoided and costs saved by government and industry.

           In 2020, Thailand has joined the OECD system for the Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) in the Assessment of Chemicals, which means that the non-clinical safety data related to the protection of human health and the environment under the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (OECD GLP) will be accepted by all 44 countries adhering to MAD. Therefore, Chulabhorn Research Institute (CRI) has established the GLP Safety Testing Working Group to conduct the non-clinical safety testing under the OECD GLP and will requested the government authorities for registration as a GLP-compliant facility. In addition, CRI will provide the non-clinical GLP safety testing service for Thai entrepreneurs after the facility has been certified as a GLP compliant facility. This is in accordance with the situation and policy of Thailand to allow the government and private sectors to be able to issue the data of non-clinical safety studies which meet the OECD GLP, leading to export promotion and public health services throughout the country.