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EU Roadmap aims to phase out animal testing – but gaps remain
The European Commission has published a Roadmap to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments. The urgency of this major undertaking is underscored by distributed visual materials showing the harsh conditions animals are subjected to during routine toxicity testing. Project 1882 welcomes the initiative but warns that important gaps remain.
The Roadmap was released by the European Commission in response to the European Citizens’ Initiative Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics. It outlines more than 20 proposed measures and recommendations to support the long-term transition towards non-animal chemical safety assessments.
"This is an important step towards reducing and eventually phasing out animal testing. However, we need to ensure that the Roadmap leads to real and measurable change”
– Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882
Project 1882 also points to recent images and video material from a UK laboratory showing animals used in toxicity testing. The material illustrates the suffering animals can experience in legally required testing and highlights the urgency of advancing reliable alternatives.
Three pillars for change
The Roadmap is built around three pillars covering 15 areas of chemical safety assessment:
- The first pillar focuses on creating conditions for a paradigm shift towards non-animal methods in chemical safety assessments, including changes to the regulatory framework and closer cooperation between scientific and regulatory communities.
- The second pillar focuses on research and innovation. It includes support for the development and uptake of non-animal methods, as well as new technologies such as artificial intelligence and greater use of human data.
- The third pillar focuses on cooperation and governance. This includes monitoring the implementation of the Roadmap and strengthening collaboration between regulators, researchers, and other stakeholders.
Project 1882 welcomes the focus on research, innovation and collaboration, but stresses that these measures must be accompanied by binding commitments and timelines.
Important gaps remain
One of the main concerns is that the Roadmap does not cover all areas where animals are used in regulatory safety testing.
For example, animals used in legally required testing of vaccines, biologics and gene therapies are not covered. The Roadmap is also limited to chemical safety assessments and therefore does not address animal use in areas such as basic research.
“A successful transition requires a comprehensive approach. We need clear timelines, sufficient funding specifically allocated for the implementation and commitments that apply across sectors, including areas that are currently excluded”
– Benny Andersson
Keeping pressure on decision-makers
Project 1882 will continue to monitor the implementation of the Roadmap and push for its gaps to be addressed.
For example, Project 1882 is calling for the conflict between the EU cosmetics animal testing ban and chemical safety requirements under REACH to be resolved. In some cases, animal testing for chemicals used in cosmetics may still be required under REACH despite the EU ban on animal testing for cosmetic purposes. The organization also asks national governments to increase funding for the 3Rs Centers, since they play a significant role in supporting the adoption of alternative methods.
“The Roadmap is an important milestone, but it cannot be the end of this discussion. Continued political action is needed to turn commitments into real change"
– Benny Andersson
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