The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to eliminate mammal testing within a decade, taking a step back from the Biden administration’s suspension of the phase-out timeline.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin expressed his commitment to realigning the agency with the ambitious goals set during Donald Trump’s presidency. He emphasized a focus on scientific progress in alternative testing methods, stating that the Trump EPA aims to advance these initiatives while following legal and scientific protocols.
In Trump’s first term, the agency initiated a directive aimed at reducing animal testing, promising a 30% reduction by 2025, with a goal of fully ending it by 2035, as mentioned by a spokesperson. However, progress has faced delays due to changes made by the Biden administration, which prioritized shifting compliance deadlines. Zeldin’s spokesperson reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to returning to its original objectives.
On Thursday, agency officials clarified that the prior 2035 target has been reinstated, noting that previous actions had hindered efforts to develop humane alternatives to animal testing. They acknowledged that some animal testing remains essential for meeting regulatory requirements but stated intentions to minimize it wherever feasible.
Zeldin took to social media to celebrate the renewed focus, declaring, “We’re back on track.”
The White Coat Waste Project (WCW) recently commended the EPA’s progress in achieving the 30% reduction in mammal testing by 2025, highlighting collaboration with Zeldin in this effort. The group pointed out its initial work with the Trump EPA in launching the program in 2019, contrasting it with the Biden administration’s approach, which they criticized for continuing wasteful and inhumane experiments.
