AnimalhealthEurope welcomes the European Commission’s newly published Roadmap to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments as a significant milestone in promoting both science‑driven and ethical advances to safety and risk assessment processes in Europe.

The animal health industry has long championed the 3Rs principles — Replacement, Reduction and Refinement — and is already making substantial progress in this direction. The sector supports acceleration in the development, validation and uptake of technologies and methods to reduce reliance on animal-based tests in research, development and manufacture of veterinary medicines, but stresses the need to ensure the transition to new approach methods (NAMs) is also promoted by the EU amongst global regulatory counterparts.

Roxane Feller, AnimalhealthEurope Director General commented:
“AnimalhealthEurope members are committed to the phase-out of animal-based tests, wherever and whenever possible, and the science-based phase-in of NAMs. We look forward to close collaboration with the European Commission, the EMA and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Roadmap.”