More than 500 participants participated in ECHA's New Methodology (NAM) seminar, discussing methods to replace animal testing in hazard assessment of industrial chemicals while ensuring high levels of protection for human health and the environment.

Helsinki, June 1, 2023- The seminar was held on May 31 and June 1, with a focus on reaching consensus on the goals that NAM can achieve in the short and long term. Participants discussed potential areas where NAM can be used to reduce regulatory reliance on data generated from animal experiments and how to accelerate its regulatory acceptance.

Despite significant progress in implementing NAM, challenges still exist. During the seminar, participants discussed the potential of NAM to consider ethical values while accelerating the pace of evaluation and providing better science.


Ofelia Bercaru, Director of Prioritization and Integration, stated:

ECHA is committed to supporting the development of new methods to replace animal testing. We also hope to contribute to future EU chemical regulations that do not rely on animal testing. This seminar provides us with new perspectives and a better understanding of how to move forward while implementing horizontal regulations such as REACH and CLP

ECHA will continue to play an active role in promoting alternatives, providing more data for the development of alternatives, further developing the QSAR toolbox, and developing guidelines and guidelines for ECHA stakeholders and the OECD. We will also continue to collaborate at the international level in the context of APCRA, PARC, and EPAA initiatives.

The minutes of the seminar will be published on the ECHA website at an appropriate time.

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The seminar brought together over 500 stakeholders from Helsinki and online representing the international scientific community, OECD, authorities, non-governmental organizations, industry, and the European Union.