Cefic welcomes the publication of the European Commission’s Roadmap towards phasing out animal testing for chemical safety assessments. The roadmap is a tangible outcome of a constructive and fruitful collaboration between all stakeholders involved – regulators, agencies, industry, academia and civil society – and demonstrates that meaningful progress is possible when science, policy and practice work together towards a shared objective.
“This roadmap marks an important moment in our journey towards a future without animal testing. For the first time, we have a shared and realistic understanding of both the potential and the limitations of animal-free approaches. That clarity matters, because it gives us a solid foundation to innovate, to invest, and to build trust in new ways of assessing chemical safety. Moving forward, our collective challenge is to turn this knowledge into action and accelerate the transition towards next-generation science that protects both people and animals.”
Katia Lacasse, Senior Advisor, Product Stewardship – Cefic
The roadmap does not stop at identifying gaps; it sets out concrete ways to address them – from research and validation efforts, to changes in regulatory practice and change‑management considerations. On this basis, it defines coherent short‑, medium‑ and long‑term objectives, offering a structured pathway towards a next-generation, animal-free safety assessment paradigm, underpinned by actions across implementation, innovation and collaboration.
As such, the roadmap sends a clear and much‑needed signal to research communities, innovators and policymakers on what is needed to evolve regulatory frameworks, including within the existing REACH framework, and enable the uptake of animal-free science in practice. It provides direction and predictability, helping to align scientific innovation, regulatory expectations and investment decisions across Europe.
Cefic has actively supported the development of this roadmap, notably through its long‑standing engagement in the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA). As a public‑private partnership bringing together the European Commission and industry, EPAA has provided a trusted platform to pool expertise, share experience and jointly explore how innovative, animal‑free approaches can contribute to regulatory decision‑making while maintaining a high level of protection for human health and the environment.
Looking ahead, Cefic calls for the necessary resources, governance structures and coordination mechanisms to be put in place to ensure the effective implementation of the roadmap’s recommendations. This will be essential to translate ambition into impact, to build confidence in new approaches, and to safeguard a sustainable, innovative and globally competitive chemical industry in Europe – while continuing to ensure a high level of protection for people and the environment.