Chief EPA announces plan to eliminate the use of animal research

EAndrew Wheeler, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has directed his department to phase out the use of animal research and has allocated $ 4.25 million to advance research on alternative methods. to better predict potential hazards.

In a memo signed on Tuesday, Wheeler outlined the EPA's plan to reduce mammal research applications and funding by 30% by 2025 and eliminate these claims and funding. this funding by 2035. Any mammalian study requested or funded after 2035 will require the approval of the administrator. case by case.

EPA will work to replace animal research with New Approach Approaches (NAMs) deemed "equivalent or superior to animal testing" and will remain "fully protective of human health and the environment" . The ministry will also allocate $ 4.25 million to five universities to research alternative test methods and strategies.

"This is an effort that the agency will undertake over the next 16 years to improve the science we use for scientific decision-making and eliminate the need for animal testing," Wheeler said. at a press conference. "It's a long-held personal conviction on my behalf."

This initiative was hailed by several lawmakers and animal welfare groups who opposed the ministry's practice of subjecting rodents, rabbits and other mammals to taxpayer-funded experiments. had forced to force-feed on bacon and coconut oil, forcing them to breathe diesel exhaust, ozone and smog, as well as electrocuting them before finally euthanizing them.

"Animal testing is often cruel and painful, with limited applicability to human health outcomes, and non-animal research is more accurate, cost-effective and humane," said Florida Representative Matt Gaetz. "I congratulate the EPA for its decision and hope that other departments and agencies will do the same."

"I thank the EPA for recognizing that it was possible to protect animals and taxpayers by limiting the use of animals for research purposes, where solutions Scientifically proven replacements are readily available, "said California representative Ken Calvert.

Justin Goodman, vice president of advocacy and public policy for the White Coat Waste Project, also hailed the initiative as "the most comprehensive and aggressive plan in US history" to reduce waste and limit the use of animal research.

Wheeler's announcement builds on the department's progress under the Trump administration to reduce its reliance on animal testing, which has saved more than 200,000 laboratory animals in recent years.

While the EPA is working to eliminate such research, several other federal agencies have also begun phasing out their own animal experiments, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.