EPA Head: We’re Looking At Reducing Animal Testing

EPA Administer Andrew Wheeler, says the agency is committed to reducing animal testing.

“I issued a memo that convinced the agency to important goals: such as reducing mammal study requests for funding 30% by 2025, and then eliminating all requests for funding by 2035,” Wheeler noted.  “Any requests for funding after 2035 will require the administrator's approval on a case-by-case basis.”

Wheeler recently made those comments before the House Science Space and Technology Committee.

“We also announced $4.25 million dollars in funding to five research universities to advance the development of alternative test methods for evaluating the safety of chemicals that will minimize and hopefully eliminate the need for animal testing.”

Wheeler pointed out that alternatives already exist, adding that computer modeling and in vitro testing are surpassing animal testing and the EPA, and other agencies need to keep pace.

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