Humane Society Voices Support for EPA Animal Testing Draft Policy

The Humane Society, Human Society International and Humane Society Legislative Fund have voiced support for the EPA’s draft policy that encourages the use of non-animal testing methods.

Titled "Use of Alternative Approaches for Skin Sensitization as a Replacement for Laboratory Animal Testing," the draft supports the use of non-animal methods for single chemical substances including pesticide active ingredients. The EPA is working to extend the policy to formulations (it currently does not include mixtures or formulat­ions).

The policy’s recommen­dations pertain to the methods used for assessing the potential of pesticides and industrial chemicals to cause skin allergies.

“This draft policy is another step toward achieving EPA's goal of reducing the use of animals and increasing the use of cutting-edge science in chemical testing," said EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, EPA administ­rator, in an official statement: 

Catherine Willett, director of regulatory toxicology, risk assessment and alternatives for the HSUS and HSI, added: “We commend the EPA for taking this important step toward eliminating the use of animals by adopting more human-relevant methods of testing. We urge the agency to move quickly to extend the scope and replace all animal use for skin allergy testing.”