Alternatives to Animal Testing
Policy and scientific initiatives to develop and accept non-animal methods for regulatory safety testing of chemicals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Foresight tracks Alternatives to Animal Testing developments and surfaces the alerts most likely to matter before they turn into missed deadlines, recalls, or escalation work.
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Last updated
12 May 2026, 18:14
Latest Alternatives to Animal Testing alerts
The most recent regulatory and guidance signals tracked by Foresight
Minnesota House Introduces Bills on Tire Producer Stewardship and Severe Animal Testing Ban (HF 5129, HF 5131)
On 11 May 2026 the Minnesota House introduced bills to create a producer-funded tire recycling programme and to prohibit certain severe animal research procedures, both currently at first-reading stage. If enacted, these measures would tighten waste and research governance in Minnesota, requiring tire producers to finance end-of-life management and research organisations to redesign or relocate high-pain animal studies.
United StatesICCS Makes Skin Sensitisation NAMs Best Practice Guidance and Webinar Recording Available
International industry consortium ICCS has made a best practice guide and recorded webinar on non-animal skin sensitisation assessment for cosmetic ingredients publicly available, with UK trade association CTPA signposting companies to these resources. While not legally binding, this guidance is emerging as a de facto standard for NAM-based skin sensitisation workflows, so R&D and product safety teams may wish to align their safety assessment practices with it ahead of wider regulatory adoption.
GlobalEuropean Commission Conference On Animal-Free Chemical Safety Assessment Roadmap Implementation
In June 2026 the European Commission and EPAA will host a three-day conference in Brussels to advance implementation of the EU roadmap to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments. The event will influence how regulators and industry use safe-space dialogues, AI tools and EPAA collaboration to accelerate regulatory acceptance of non-animal methods over the next five years.
European UnionUN Experts Propose Revisions To GHS Chapter 1.3 On Non-Animal Methods
UN experts have proposed revising GHS chapter 1.3 to introduce general, non-endpoint-specific guidance on the use of non-animal test, non-test and defined approaches for health and environmental hazard classification, for discussion at the July 2026 Sub-Committee session. If agreed and later incorporated into the GHS, this will embed a harmonised framework for in vitro, in chemico, in silico and weight-of-evidence approaches, signalling wider regulatory acceptance of non-animal evidence and influencing how companies design testing strategies and justify classifications globally.
GlobalILMERAC Hosts Expert Dialogue on EU Roadmap to Phase Out Animal Testing
ILMERAC is hosting an online expert dialogue on 18 May 2026 to discuss the European Commission’s roadmap for phasing out animal testing in chemical safety assessment and the transition to new approach methodologies. While not a formal regulatory step, this event signals the Commission’s direction on NAMs and offers stakeholders early insight into how future chemicals risk assessment requirements for food and feed may evolve.
European UnionUK Parliament Bill Would Ban Animals in Medical Research From 2035
A UK Private Member’s Bill would require regulations to ban the use of animals in medical research from 1 January 2035 and mandate non-animal methods for testing medicines and medical devices. If progressed, this would force a substantial redesign of UK preclinical testing and regulatory evidence requirements, accelerating investment in non-animal methodologies and potentially disrupting existing R&D pipelines ahead of the 2035 cut-off.
United KingdomECHA Opens REACH Testing Proposal Consultation on 1,2-Diaminotoluene, Propoxylated
In April 2026, ECHA opened a REACH testing proposal consultation on 1,2-diaminotoluene, propoxylated, seeking third-party data on repeated-dose and reproductive/developmental toxicity before conducting new vertebrate studies. Companies using this substance or its close analogue should review existing data and consider submitting evidence by the June 2026 deadline to influence testing requirements and anticipate potential future classification or risk-management actions.
European UnionUK Government Confirms Removal of Rabbit Pyrogen Test and Clarifies MHRA/Home Office Policy
In April 2026, UK parliamentary written answers confirmed that the rabbit pyrogen test was removed from the British Pharmacopoeia in 2025 and set out MHRA and Home Office positions that restrict its use in the UK to tightly controlled, exceptional cases for non-UK regulatory requirements. This reinforces a wider shift towards non-animal testing methods for medicines and devices, signalling that companies should plan for alternative pyrogen and preclinical testing strategies and expect closer scrutiny of any remaining rabbit-based protocols.
United KingdomECHA Testing Proposal Consultation For Reaction Mass of Oxymethylene Dimethyl Ethers (EC 935-340-7)
In late April 2026, ECHA launched a REACH testing proposal consultation for Reaction mass of oxymethylene dimethyl ethers (EC 935-340-7), seeking data on repeated-dose oral and developmental toxicity endpoints. Registrants and downstream users should review available toxicology data and consider submissions by mid-June 2026 to avoid unnecessary vertebrate testing and influence future regulatory decisions on the substance.
European UnionECHA Publishes REACH Testing Proposal for Tall-Oil Pitch
ECHA has opened a REACH testing proposal consultation for Tall‑oil pitch (EC 232‑414‑4; CAS 8016‑81‑7), covering long-term aquatic, repeated-dose oral and reproductive/developmental toxicity endpoints with third-party data due by 12 June 2026. This signals intensified regulatory scrutiny of Tall‑oil pitch under REACH, so companies using or supplying it should quickly assess available study data, engage with the consultation, and anticipate possible future classification or risk-management actions.
European UnionECHA Opens REACH Testing Proposal Consultation for Octadecyl Acrylate
ECHA is consulting under REACH Article 40(2) on a vertebrate-testing proposal for octadecyl acrylate, seeking scientifically valid information on long-term toxicity to fish ahead of a deadline of 12 June 2026. Companies and other data holders with relevant ecotoxicity studies should review their dossiers and consider submitting existing data, as the outcome may influence future testing needs and hazard assessment for this substance under REACH.
European UnionECHA Opens REACH Testing Proposal Consultation for Lithium 12‑hydroxystearate (EC 231‑536‑5)
ECHA has opened a REACH testing‑proposal consultation on Lithium 12‑hydroxystearate, seeking third‑party data on several vertebrate toxicity endpoints with comments due by 12 June 2026. Registrants and other data holders should review existing studies and consider submitting relevant information, as this consultation will inform ECHA's evaluation of the testing proposal and the evidence base for this substance under EU REACH.
European UnionECHA Testing Proposal Consultation: Dodecyl Acrylate (EC 218-463-4, CAS 2156-97-0)
ECHA has opened a REACH testing proposal consultation for Dodecyl acrylate, seeking data on repeated-dose oral and developmental toxicity ahead of a 12 June 2026 deadline. Companies manufacturing, importing, or using this monomer in EU supply chains should review existing vertebrate and alternative data, consider submitting robust studies, and anticipate potential implications for future hazard classification and regulatory requirements.
European UnionECHA Opens Consultation on REACH Testing Proposal for Dilithium Sebacate (EC 242-999-8)
ECHA has launched a REACH consultation on proposed vertebrate tests for Dilithium sebacate, with stakeholders invited to submit information by mid-June 2026. Companies manufacturing or using this substance should quickly review existing data, consider submissions to influence testing decisions, and anticipate how new hazard data could affect classification and downstream obligations.
European UnionEU ECHA Seeks Data on Developmental Toxicity Testing Proposal for CAS 68608-66-2
In April 2026 ECHA opened a REACH testing-proposal consultation on a developmental toxicity study in rabbits for Acetic acid, chloro-, sodium salt, reaction products with 4,5-dihydro-2-undecyl-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol and sodium hydroxide (CAS 68608-66-2), inviting third-party data until 12 June 2026. Companies manufacturing or using this substance should review existing developmental toxicity information and consider submitting robust data to avoid or refine additional vertebrate testing and anticipate potential impacts on their REACH registration.
European UnionUK Government Commissions Advice on Establishing Alternatives to Animals in Science Committee
In April 2026 the UK Government’s Office for Life Sciences formally commissioned the Animals in Science Committee to advise on creating a new expert committee focused on alternatives to the use of animals in science. This is an early governance step signalling future changes in how non-animal methods are coordinated and integrated into the UK research and regulatory system, so R&D and regulatory teams should monitor its outputs for potential impacts on testing strategies and investment priorities.
United KingdomRIVM Survey on Policy Actions for New Approach Methodologies in European Chemical Risk Assessment
RIVM has launched an EU-focused survey of chemical safety policymakers to identify which policy actions could accelerate the validation and implementation of New Approach Methodologies in regulatory chemical risk assessment. The results will inform future policy recommendations, scientific publications, and tools for decision-makers, signalling ongoing momentum to move away from animal testing and modernise European chemicals regulation.
European Union
NetherlandsECHA To Host Science Seminar on Virtual Control Groups in Pre-Clinical Toxicity Studies
ECHA is hosting a science seminar on virtual control groups in pre-clinical toxicity studies on 26 May 2026, with the session and its recording accessible online to a broad regulatory and scientific audience. This highlights regulators’ growing interest in data-driven, non-animal alternatives to traditional control groups, which may shape future acceptance of new approach methodologies in chemical safety assessments and study design.
European UnionEU Researchers Evaluate Chlorpyrifos Developmental Toxicity Using NAM-Based Systematic Review
An EU research team has published an open-access systematic review using new approach methodologies to characterise chlorpyrifos’ developmental and neurotoxic effects across human, rodent, avian, and fish models. The work strengthens the mechanistic case behind existing chlorpyrifos restrictions and illustrates how NAM- and AOP-based evidence can be integrated into next-generation regulatory risk assessments for pesticides and related organophosphates.
NetherlandsEuropean UnionEFSA Publishes Workshop Report on Alternative Methods for Protein Safety Assessment in Food and Feed
In April 2026 EFSA published a workshop report summarising stakeholder feedback on alternative, 3Rs-aligned methods for assessing the safety of newly expressed proteins in food and feed. This marks a shift toward tiered weight-of-evidence and non-animal new approach methodologies that is likely to influence future EFSA guidance and data expectations for applicants, even though it does not yet change legal obligations.
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