Together with Members of the European Parliament and Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, we have today called for more ambition and a greater commitment from the Commission in ensuring that revised EU chemicals laws (REACH) make full use of non-animal testing methods.

In a joint letter addressed to Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and other European Commissioners we urge that the EU’s goal of reducing and replacing animal testing be fully taken into account at all stages of the REACH revision process, including an assessment of the numbers of animal tests that may result from any changes in the legislation.

As well as arguing for a modernised legislative framework, the letter outlines seven concrete actions to be taken to help prioritise animal-free New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). These include a full evaluation of the effects of animal testing in the impact assessments for all legislation linked to the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, as well as stricter monitoring of the animal tests required, and the number of animals used for testing.

The letter has been co-signed by MEPs, Maria Spyraki (Greece, EPP), Tilly Metz (Luxembourg, Greens), Sirpa Pietikainen (Finland, EPP) and Jutta Paulus (Germany, Greens).

The REACH law governing EU chemicals management is expected to be revised next year and should be a key opportunity to ensure that data generated by tests reflect the latest scientific advances, actively reduce and replace animal testing, and that both existing data and reliable NAMs are developed, promoted and accepted faster by the European Commission, EU Member States and the European Chemicals Agency.

Dr Katy Taylor, our Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs said: “The debate on the roll-out of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) is often framed in a way that puts the phase-out of animal testing at odds with increased protection of human health and the environment. This is not an either/or situation. We are all united in wanting better outcomes for the health of the environment and people.

“As things stand however, there is real risk that millions more animals will suffer in tick-list tests. A toxic-free environment is something we all want to see but using animal tests to do this is not acceptable.”

Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, founded in 1972, is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies across Europe, which provide 1.1 million jobs and account for 15% of world chemicals production.

If you are a national of an EU Member State and want to see animal test-free management of chemicals, sign our European Citizens’ Initiative now and share with all your friends and family too.