The European Commission has published a strategic roadmap to gradually phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments. The initiative covers 15 regulatory areas, including REACH, CLP, biocides, plant protection products, and pharmaceuticals and outlines short-, medium- and long-term actions to support the adoption of alternative methods.
These include in vitro models, computational tools, artificial intelligence, and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
The goal is to develop a new risk assessment approach based on human-relevant data and a deeper understanding of biological mechanisms, while maintaining high standards of protection for human health and the environment.