EU Call for Evidence: Roadmap to Phase Out Animal Testing in Chemical Safety Assessments

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence on its initiative to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments. The consultation is open from 17 September to 15 October 2024 and invites stakeholders to provide input on the transition to non-animal methods. Feedback can be given here.

European Commission Roadmap

This initiative follows the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics’, which gathered over 1.2 million signatures. In response, the Commission published Communication C(2023) 5041, outlining its commitment to develop a roadmap detailing the actions and milestones needed to move towards an animal-free regulatory system.

The ECI, submitted on 25 January 2023, calls for legislative reforms to eliminate animal testing for regulatory and scientific purposes in the EU. The Commission aims to finalise the Roadmap by Q4 2025/Q1 2026 and thereby address the necessary steps to replace animal testing under various chemicals legislation, including REACH.

Challenges to be Addressed

Currently, animals are used to assess the safety of chemicals where there are no viable alternatives. Despite progress in developing alternative methods, challenges remain in assessing complex toxicities without animal testing. The Roadmap will seek to overcome these obstacles while ensuring the safety of human health and the environment.

Objectives of the Roadmap

The Roadmap will:

• Outline specific legislative and non-legislative actions to reduce and ultimately eliminate animal testing.

• Analyse the feasibility of establishing an expert scientific committee to support the transition.

• Promote the validation and international acceptance of non-animal test methods.

• Increase the visibility of EU agencies in global discussions on chemical safety.

Expected Impacts

Transitioning to animal-free methods is anticipated to accelerate chemical safety assessments and lower costs for both the industry and regulatory bodies. The initiative aims to improve clarity and certainty for stakeholders regarding the use of non-animal testing methods in regulatory contexts.

Conclusion

This initiative underscores the EU's commitment to animal welfare while ensuring a high level of safety for humans and the environment. By developing and implementing a roadmap to phase out animal testing, the Commission aims to foster innovation and maintain competitiveness in the chemicals market.