New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)

European Medicines Agency (EMA) Hosts Webinar on NAMs in Ecotoxicology – In Silico Approaches for Acute Fish Toxicity

The European Medicines Agency is hosting an Eco-NAMs webinar on 28 May 2026 showcasing in silico methods to replace acute fish toxicity tests in regulatory ecotoxicology. This signals growing regulatory interest in NAM-based ecotoxicity assessments, so R&D and regulatory teams should track how these approaches may shape future environmental risk testing strategies and data expectations.

24 May 2026, 20:33ema.europa.euEuropean UnionNetherlands

Health Canada Hosts Webinar on Automated Workflow for Prioritization (HAWPr)

Health Canada will host English and French stakeholder webinars on 15 June 2026 to explain its updated automated workflow (HAWPr) for prioritising chemicals for risk assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. This signals how Canada will use data-rich, NAM-enabled screening to set future risk assessment priorities, so companies should understand how HAWPr may elevate their substances for further scrutiny.

23 May 2026, 11:19canada.caCanada

Netherlands (RIVM) Describes New PARC NAMs Project for Regulatory Developmental Immunotoxicity Assessment

RIVM’s publications catalogue now links to an open‑access *Frontiers in Toxicology* review describing a four‑year PARC project (launched May 2025) to modernise **developmental immunotoxicity (DIT)** assessment in European chemicals regulation using **new approach methodologies (NAMs)**.[^1^](https://www.rivm.nl/publicaties/new-approach-methodologies-nams-to-support-regulatory-assessment-of-developmental#:~:text=New%20approach%20methodologies%20(NAMs)%20to%20support%20regulatory%20assessment%20of%20developmental%20immunotoxicity)[^2^](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/toxicology/articles/10.3389/ftox.2026.1740390/full#:~:text=The%20current%20testing%20strategy%20for%20the%20assessment%20of%20developmental%20immunotoxicity) The project aims to build a human‑relevant DIT knowledge base (including a **Human Immune System Development Map**) and to develop and evaluate NAMs—such as in vitro TDAR assays, advanced HSC/iPSC‑derived immune cell models, and zebrafish/stickleback systems—to support regulatory decisions like screening, prioritisation and read‑across and, over time, reduce reliance on animal testing.[^2^](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/toxicology/articles/10.3389/ftox.2026.1740390/full#:~:text=This%20project%20comprises%2014%20partner%20institutions) For compliance teams, this is an important **regulatory‑science signal** on how EU authorities and PARC partners expect future DIT assessments to evolve, but it does **not yet change any legal obligations or testing requirements.**

18 May 2026, 15:09rivm.nlNetherlands

US FDA Releases Instructional Video For Expanded Decision Tree Food Chemical Toxicity Screening Tool

FDA has published a practical video guide and detailed web explainer on its Expanded Decision Tree tool, which classifies food-related chemicals by chronic toxicity and Threshold of Toxicological Concern to prioritise regulatory review. This strengthens non-binding, data-driven screening methods in FDA’s food chemical safety programme and signals greater reliance on New Approach Methods and TTC-based prioritisation when planning future assessments and submissions.

15 May 2026, 15:08fda.govUnited States

OECD Call for Assays on 3D Liver Toxicity Models for Regulatory Chemical Assessment

OECD has launched a public call for assay developers to submit structured information on 3D liver toxicity models to support a Detailed Review Paper on their suitability for regulatory chemical safety assessment, with responses accepted from 15 April to 18 May 2026. This consultation advances non-animal testing approaches and may shape future OECD test guidelines that regulators worldwide use to evaluate industrial chemicals, pesticides, biocides, and cosmetics.

14 May 2026, 18:40oecd.orgGlobal

South Korea Establishes Public–Private Task Force to Promote Animal-Free Chemical Hazard Assessment

In May 2026 South Korea created a 22-member public–private task force to accelerate animal-free methods for chemical hazard assessment and develop a national new approach methodologies (NAMs) strategy through 2035. This signals a strategic shift in Korean chemicals regulation toward validated non-animal data, so companies relying on traditional animal studies for regulatory hazard assessments should anticipate future legislative changes, new guidance, and capacity-building initiatives favouring NAMs.

14 May 2026, 09:55mcee.go.krSouth Korea

ICCS 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.

11 May 2026, 11:45iccs-cosmetics.orgGlobal

European 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.

9 May 2026, 18:56single-market-economy.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU SCHEER Publishes Minutes On Chemical Mixtures Working Group Meeting (18 March 2026)

SCHEER has published minutes from its 18 March 2026 working group meeting on chemical mixtures, confirming agreement to use the Mixture Allocation Factor as a pragmatic tool in data-poor situations and planning further work on integrating NAMs and in silico methods. These methodological choices indicate the direction of forthcoming EU mixture risk-assessment guidance, with potential implications for how companies substantiate chemical safety where traditional data are limited.

8 May 2026, 17:41health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

ILMERAC 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.

8 May 2026, 06:47bezpecnostpotravin.czEuropean Union

EU SCCS Working Group Minutes Record New Mandates on Glyoxylic Acid and Hydroxycitronellal and Data Call for Phytonadione Epoxide

EU SCCS Working Group minutes from April 2026 record new scientific mandates on glyoxylic acid and hydroxycitronellal, an imminent data-call deadline for phytonadione epoxide, and key milestones for multiple cosmetic ingredient opinions and nanomaterial assessments. These steps foreshadow potential changes to permitted uses and concentration limits for several UV filters, hair-straightening agents, fragrances and silver- or nano-based ingredients in EU cosmetics, making timely data submissions and close monitoring of forthcoming SCCS opinions important for portfolio and compliance planning.

8 May 2026, 06:01health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Science Seminars Feature PARC Research on Neurotoxicity and BPA Alternatives

PARC has reported on ECHA Science Seminars where its experts presented new approach methodologies for neurotoxicity and early findings that some BPA alternatives show endocrine-disrupting activity. Although this does not yet change EU rules, it signals growing reliance on NAM-based evidence under CLP and suggests that BPA alternatives and related chemistries could face closer scrutiny, so companies using them should monitor emerging hazard assessments and substitution strategies.

5 May 2026, 14:19eu-parc.euEuropean Union

UK 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.

5 May 2026, 06:53publications.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom

EFSA Summarises Year-Three Development of OpenFoodTox 3.0 Chemical Hazards Database

EFSA has published a 2026 external scientific report summarising year-three work on its OpenFoodTox 3.0 chemical hazards database, enhancing data quality, new QSAR models, and interoperability with IUCLID and the EU Common Data Platform on Chemicals. These upgrades strengthen the digital backbone of EU food and feed risk assessment and will progressively shape how companies and risk assessors access, align, and supply hazard data for regulatory use.

5 May 2026, 06:50efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

RIVM 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.

29 Apr 2026, 18:13formdesk.comEuropean UnionNetherlands

ECHA 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.

29 Apr 2026, 12:20echa.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Environment Highlights AI Model Bridging Data Gaps in Chemical Toxicity Assessment

EU Environment has highlighted new research using an AI-based ecotoxicity model to generate over 16 million LC50 predictions for 1,267 chemicals across 3,295 species, dramatically expanding data coverage for environmental hazard assessment. This signals a strategic shift toward AI and non-animal methods to support Safe and Sustainable by Design, REACH decisions, water-quality standards, and product footprinting, which could reshape how chemicals are screened and prioritised in EU policy over time.

29 Apr 2026, 08:10environment.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU JRC Details Support for EFSA Nano Risk Assessment Guidance up to 250 Nm in Food and Feed

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre outlines how its Nanomaterials Repository underpins EFSA’s nano risk assessment guidance for food and feed, including the use of a 250 nm particle-size scope and increased reliance on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). For food and feed applicants this signals that nanospecific characterisation and NAM-based testing will be expected for materials up to 250 nm, and that well-characterised reference nanomaterials are available from the JRC Repository to support compliant study design and regulatory submissions.

28 Apr 2026, 19:56op.europa.euEuropean Union

EU 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.

28 Apr 2026, 17:47link.springer.comNetherlandsEuropean Union

EFSA 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.

24 Apr 2026, 16:02efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union