We call on scientists, policy makers and stakeholders attending the second Annual Forum on Endocrine Disruptors taking place on 17-18 December to consider the potentially huge increase in animal testing required to fulfil planned updates to EU REACH regulation in relation to endocrine disruptors.

Information produced by proposed REACH testing requirements will neither reliably detect substances that could act as endocrine disruptors, nor reliably confirm that a chemical substance is hazardous.

The online forum, one of the actions stemming from the Commission’s communication “Towards a comprehensive European Union Framework on Endocrine Disruptors”, is an opportunity for the EU to outline its strategic approach to endocrine disruptors for the years to come, with the goal of ensuring a high level of protection for EU citizens and the environment. It's a chance to look at whether EU legislation on endocrine disruptors delivers the objective of protecting human health and the environment.

However, the Commission’s opening proposals for changes to REACH suggest new tests on animals will be required for the thousands of chemicals on the EU market today, and for new substances entering the market in future.

Based on the proposals, we estimate over a million animals will be made to suffer in the basic test for endocrine disruptors alone, with many more animals at risk for other elements of the chemicals strategy.

Dr Emma Grange, Senior Scientist, attending the virtual conference for Cruelty Free Europe, says: “We are extremely concerned by the prospect of a huge increase in routine animal testing to meet new requirements added to REACH, tests that will cause animals to suffer in European laboratories.

“So long as it relies on the testing of animals, REACH will not deliver protection against the potential harms of endocrine disrupting chemicals. The requirement to routinely perform new tests for thousands of chemicals will lead to a terrible amount of avoidable tests on animals.”