Source: European Parliament
In line with its communication responding to the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics — Commit to a Europe Without Animal Testing’[1], the Commission intends to finalise the roadmap by the first quarter 2026 at the latest.
Following the publication of the roadmap, the implementation phase will commence. It will start immediately, following a gradual approach. For some roadmap actions, e.g. recommendations to replace more complex endpoints, where no suitable or validated non-animal methods are currently available, the implementation will require years since progress will depend on the development and validation of such alternatives.
The roadmap will serve as a structured action plan that outlines the steps necessary for implementation, offering inter alia concrete recommendations for the integration of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) across 15 legislative areas that currently require animal testing for chemical safety assessments, not limited to the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation[2]. Its implementation will therefore be relevant to a broader set of EU chemicals legislation.
The Commission also intends to better integrate NAMs into the ongoing revision of the REACH Regulation, where scientifically and legally feasible, and in line with the outcomes of the roadmap development process.