EU Advances Toward Cruelty-Free Chemical Safety Testing

The European Commission has released a much-anticipated roadmap towards phasing out animal testing for chemical safety assessments.

There is a “firm commitment to phasing-out animal testing at the earliest opportunity”.

Campaigners go on to say the EU has acknowledged that, “up until now, overall progress to replace animal testing has been too slow”.

Cruelty Free Europe adds, “Importantly, the Roadmap identifies that eliminating redundant tests on animals, as well as introducing more non-animal approaches, is a priority for progress to be realised.”

The work to phase-out cruel, regulatory testing of chemicals on animals, including ingredients found in the thousands of products people may use every day, “is as urgently needed as ever,” state campaigners.

The latest statistics on animal use for the EU and Norway suggest that over 450,000 animals were used in regulatory tests in European laboratories in 2023 alone.

These include the testing of chemicals and medicines – two priority sectors that are addressed by the Roadmap.

Cruelty Free Europe goes on to say the Roadmap details commitments to improve key processes.

These, it adds, include the validation of non-animal approaches, engagement with regulators and stakeholders, including NGOs and the public, the identification of regulatory needs to support the development of new non-animal approaches.

It also welcomes collaboration with partner countries and international organisations, and the more comprehensive tracking of animal use for EU-driven regulatory toxicity testing.

“These commitments mark a serious move towards bringing about an end to the suffering of animals,” it says.

“In 2023, 9.1 million animals were used in scientific tests and experiments in the EU and Norway – the transformation of the use of animals in regulatory testing could lead the way for much needed change across all uses of animals.”

Cruelty Free Europe’s Director of Science & Regulatory Affairs, Emma Grange, said: “This Roadmap is a very welcome step in the right direction – we believe it can bring about the transformative change that European citizens want, but only if it is implemented effectively with ambition and strong leadership.

“Without this, we will face never-ending stagnation and insufficient reductions in the use of animals.

“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.

“We look forward to working with politicians, legislators, regulators, researchers and industry to ensure this strategy delivers on its promises, and will continue our work to drive progress over the years and political cycles to come.”