News & InsightsNewsletterLegislation Hub

Foresight

Foresight
AboutContactLog in
Book a Demo
Foresight logo
All News & Insights

New Study Advocates Shift Towards Animal-Free Chemical Safety Testing

General
17
October 2024
•
450
Dr Steven Brennan
A new study from the European Commission urges a transition to animal-free testing methods for chemical safety, promoting efficiency and sustainability.‍
Mouse in hand
Quick prompts

AI Generated

Get to the point quicker with prompts - a smarter way to get the information you need from our articles.

Summarise this article

AI Assistant

This feature and much more is available on our platform. If you would like early access, please leave your email and we'll get in touch.

We'll be in touch when the Assistant is ready.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Mountains

A new study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) outlines a transformative approach to chemical safety testing, advocating for the phase-out of animal testing. The study introduces a roadmap for transitioning towards non-animal methods, also known as New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), which promise enhanced efficiency, reduced costs, and improved safety assessments for both human health and the environment.

The Call for Chemicals 2.0

The European Union (EU) chemical regulatory framework is under pressure to evolve. Recent developments have highlighted the need to improve current testing practices to protect human health and the environment better. The study proposes "Chemicals 2.0," a new regulatory model focused on minimising unnecessary testing and improving efficiency through the adoption of NAMs. These methods would eventually replace traditional animal tests, in line with the EU's long-standing commitment to reduce animal testing.

The research emphasises that animal testing is no longer the only reliable option for ensuring chemical safety. Innovative technologies and biological reasoning now offer robust non-animal alternatives that can meet regulatory standards.

Pathways to Adoption

The study highlights five key pathways towards the acceptance of non-animal testing strategies:

  1. Augmenting: Introducing NAMs to address gaps where no animal or required tests exist.
  2. Complementing: Using NAMs alongside animal tests to boost confidence in results.
  3. Repurposing: Reassigning non-animal methods from one legislative context to another.
  4. Replacing: Fully replacing animal tests where non-animal methods prove sufficient.
  5. Rebuilding: Overhauling the regulatory framework to prioritise non-animal testing at all levels.

The report acknowledges that the transition to non-animal testing faces several socio-technical barriers, including resistance to changing established practices and concerns about the readiness of non-animal methods.

Regulatory and Technological Challenges

One of the main challenges for regulators is adapting the EU’s Globally Harmonised System (GHS) for classifying and labelling chemicals. Current GHS criteria are heavily reliant on data from animal testing. The study suggests revising these criteria to accommodate the growing body of evidence from NAMs.

Furthermore, there are concerns about whether non-animal methods can effectively address complex health and environmental issues, such as chronic toxicity. The authors propose a tiered testing approach, ensuring proportionality in testing requirements and cost-effectiveness.

The Future of Risk Assessment

The study proposes a hybrid system that integrates animal and non-animal methods while the transition progresses. The eventual goal is to adopt a fully non-animal testing framework. With post-market surveillance and advanced monitoring techniques, the study envisions a system where the most hazardous chemicals are prioritised, ensuring continued safety and sustainability.

The study marks a significant step in transforming chemical safety assessments in Europe, advocating for a gradual but determined shift towards non-animal testing. As NAMs continue to improve, this twin transition could herald a new era of more efficient, humane, and scientifically advanced toxicology practices.

Read the source story

Read this article now for free!

You have read 3 articles.
Create a free account
or
Log in
to finish reading this article now.

Subscribe to our weekly digest

Sign up to receive our newsletter every Tuesday and get access to all of our content.

By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
This is some text inside of a div block.

Trusted by professionals at

Dupont
ECHA - European Chemicals Agency
Energizer
Chemours
This is some text inside of a div block.

Get Foresight Today

Stay compliant, reduce risk, and protect your business with our AI-powered chemical policy monitoring—tailored just for you.

Global monitoring of 1,200+ sources
Expert-reviewed, trusted regulatory alerts
Instant risk identification for 350k+ substances

Ready to supercharge your policy monitoring workflow?

We’ll be in touch soon with more details and support to help you get started.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Share with a friend
Copy link

Related Articles

EU flag outside buildingProvisional Agreement on EU Chemicals Assessment Reform to Streamline Compliance and Boost Transparency

June 13, 2025

Man with industrial cleaning chemcialsTaiwan Bans Import of Cleaning Agents with Nonylphenol and Ethoxylates

June 13, 2025

Packaged foodSwitzerland Bans BPA and Hazardous Bisphenols in Food Contact Materials

June 12, 2025

Foresight regulatory experts
Streamline your chemical compliance
Easy-to-use product compliance management for small and mid-sized manufacturers — mitigate risk and protect market access.
Get started
Subscribe to Foresight's newsletter
Stay ahead with the latest news & insights
Join 1,000s of compliance professionals getting the latest insights right to their inbox for free, every Tuesday.
100% free. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Stay ahead with the latest news & insights
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter covering news, events, and expert insights.

Related articles

EU flag outside building

Provisional Agreement on EU Chemicals Assessment Reform to Streamline Compliance and Boost Transparency

EU agrees on a chemicals assessment reform to streamline compliance and boost transparency. Learn what this means for manufacturers and regulators.

13

Jun 2025

General
Man with industrial cleaning chemcials

Taiwan Bans Import of Cleaning Agents with Nonylphenol and Ethoxylates

Taiwan restricts Nonylphenol (NP) and NPEO in cleaning agents. Find out how this policy affects chemical compliance, imports, and product reformulations.

13

Jun 2025

General
Packaged food

Switzerland Bans BPA and Hazardous Bisphenols in Food Contact Materials

Switzerland bans BPA in food contact materials from July 2025. Learn what this means for compliance across the manufacturing and packaging sectors.

12

Jun 2025

General
Foresight
Providing critical insights, analysis, and guidance to help businesses anticipate changes, make informed decisions, and stay ahead.
News & Insights
Newsletter
Legislation Hub
Coverage
Contact
About
© 2025 Foresight. All rights reserved.
SitemapTerms of servicePrivacy policyCookie policy