News Details

On 12 May 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE)  announced the launch of a public-private task force to promote the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in chemical safety assessments. 

This initiative aims to reduce reliance on traditional animal testing and encourage the wider use of alternative testing methods, such as AI-based toxicity prediction and other non-animal approaches. 

National Strategy for 2027–2035 

The task force will develop a national strategy to promote non-animal testing methods for chemicals, covering the period from 2027 to 2035. According to the ministry, the strategy will include a roadmap for the phased reduction of animal testing, institutional support measures, and implementation support for industry. 

The task force consists of 22 experts from government agencies, public institutions, industry, academia, and research organizations, including the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), the National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS), the Korea Environment Corporation, universities, CRO associations, and private companies. 

Alignment with International Trends 

The MCEE noted that reducing animal testing is becoming an important international regulatory trend. Major jurisdictions are accelerating the development of alternative testing methods using human-cell-based models, artificial organs, and computational prediction tools. 

The Ministry also referred to international developments, including the U.S. EPA’s announcement in April 2025 of plans to phase out animal testing by 2035, and the European Union’s planned roadmap for reducing animal testing, which is expected in the first half of 2026. 

Next Steps 

In the second half of 2026, South Korea plans to organize a forum on the phased reduction of animal testing, launch pilot training programs for alternative testing methods, and establish a validation center for non-animal testing methods. 

This initiative is expected to strengthen South Korea’s regulatory readiness, encourage the adoption of alternative testing methods within the industry, and improve alignment with the evolving international chemical safety standards.