Are we finally heading towards a future without animal testing?

Naturewatch Foundation

Naturewatch Foundation - Advancing Animal Welfare

Defra committee releases new report about adopting New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in chemical regulation.

Imagine a world where the safety of chemicals is assured without relying on animal testing. Thanks to ground-breaking advancements, such a future is within reach. The UK now has the opportunity to lead the way by embracing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) – innovative, cruelty-free techniques for assessing chemical safety.

That’s according to a new report by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) own Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (HSAC). It’s encouraging to hear central government finally making positive noises about replacing animals in chemical safety tests.

What are NAMs?

NAMs are cutting-edge methods that use technologies like high-throughput screening, omics (studying genes, proteins, and metabolites) and computer modelling to understand how chemicals affect biology. Unlike traditional animal tests, NAMs provide human-relevant data by focusing on the molecular mechanisms of toxicity.

By replacing outdated animal testing, NAMs not only address ethical concerns but also offer more reliable, faster and cost-effective insights into chemical safety.

Why now?

For decades, the UK has committed to reducing, refining, and replacing animal testing (the 3Rs). However, chemical safety assessments often still use animal tests by law. NAMs represent a chance to change this and their scientific validity has grown significantly in recent years.

With Brexit providing the UK with regulatory independence, HSAC say in their new report that there’s a unique opportunity to adopt NAMs and position the UK as a global leader in humane science. According to HSAC, the UK can put itself at the forefront of cruelty-free chemical regulation, while also boosting our scientific and technological sectors.

Crucially, they acknowledge the weak scientific basis for chemical safety tests involving animals, stating, “animal-to-human extrapolations have now been shown to be associated with substantial uncertainties” and “alternatives to animal testing are urgently needed.”

Key benefits of NAMs according to HSAC:

1. Ethical Leadership: By adopting NAMs, the UK can reaffirm its commitment to animal welfare and inspire other nations to follow suit.
2. Human Relevance: Animal tests often fail to predict human responses accurately. NAMs provide data directly relevant to human health.
3. Speed and Efficiency: NAMs can screen thousands of chemicals rapidly, enabling quicker decision-making.
4. Economic Potential: Early adoption of NAMs could make the UK a global hub for regulatory innovation, attracting investment and creating jobs.

What next?

To maximise the potential of NAMs, the HSAC recommends:

• Adopting a progressive NAMs Regulatory Framework: Introducing clear, science-based criteria to integrate NAMs into regulatory practices.
• Establishing Centres of Excellence: Creating facilities to develop, validate and implement NAMs, ensuring widespread adoption across industries.
• Incentivising Innovation: Encouraging companies to use NAMs by recognising their value in regulatory processes.

NAMs are more than a scientific breakthrough – they’re a moral imperative. They embody a future where safety doesn’t come at the cost of animal suffering. As an animal welfare charity, we are truly encouraged by HSAC’s report and urge policymakers, industry leaders and the public to champion NAMs and help create a humane and sustainable future that doesn’t involve animal suffering.

Together, we can make the UK a beacon of ethical innovation and lead the world in cruelty-free science. 

Find out more about our Animal Experiments work. 

The post Are we finally heading towards a future without animal testing? first appeared on Naturewatch Foundation and is written by Morwenna.