EU Commission issues plan to replace animal testing in chemical safety assessments

The European Commission has released their new roadmap towards phasing out animal testing for chemical safety assessments, signalling a major step in the region’s ambitions to transition to non-animal approaches.

Change in this area is a pertinent priority—overall progress to replace animal testing has thus far been “too slow”, according to the European Commission’s new publication: “between 2015-2023, over 15 million animals have been used for testing for regulatory purposes in the EU, with almost 40 percent of them for chemical safety assessments”.

Supporting this shift in the industry, the roadmap strengthens the existing REACH framework and the EU’s chemicals legislation. The Commission says it signifies the move towards new alternative, non-animal methods that are faster, more cost-efficient and innovation-friendly.

The roadmap provides pharmaceutical companies with clear, practical steps on transitioning to these novel approaches and uphold the integrity of safety evaluations.

Chiefly, it acknowledges eliminating redundant animal tests and increasing introduction of non-animal approaches.

[the EC’s roadmap] reflects a shared ambition: to phase-in more predictive, science-driven approaches that can better protect both patients and the environment, while reducing reliance on animal testing”

Kirsty Reid, Director of Science Policy, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), added that the roadmap “reflects a shared ambition: to phase-in more predictive, science-driven approaches that can better protect both patients and the environment, while reducing reliance on animal testing.”

The initiative comprises of 22 actions under three pillars. The first pillar outlines what is required to phase out testing on animals, with actions supporting faster development and use of non-animal approaches. Also included is more thorough tracking of animal use for EU-driven regulatory toxicity testing.

The second pillar focuses on positioning Europe as a leader of research and innovation. Actions included in this pillar leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and big data sets for method development.

Lastly, the third pillar takes a broader view, with actions including the introduction of a framework that facilitates implementation with relevant EU stakeholders and to promote international collaboration with regulators.

Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, European Commission, said: “The publication of this roadmap marks a pivotal step towards modernising chemical safety assessments while reinforcing Europe’s leadership in innovation. By phasing out animal testing, we are not only upholding higher ethical standards but also strengthening our competitiveness through cutting-edge, non-animal alternative technologies.”

Cruelty Free Europe’s Director of Science & Regulatory Affairs, Emma Grange, said: “We’re very pleased to see that the Roadmap identifies that legislative action is required to fully realise change, as well as acknowledging that EU regulations drive animal testing in laboratories located inside and outside of the EU.”

A conference focused on the roadmap’s progress is planned for 2029. This includes consulting of stakeholders on the future use of animals for chemical safety assessments.