Progress! EPA Recommits to Ending Reliance on Animal Tests

For Immediate Release:
January 22, 2026

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a recommitment to ending its reliance on toxicity tests on animals by 2035, strengthening the agency’s long-standing efforts to move toward non-animal methods that enhance human protection and safeguard the environment. PETA scientist Dr. Amy Clippinger joined the EPA Administrator and spoke at the public announcement earlier today.

PETA scientists have worked closely with the EPA for many years to advance non-animal testing, including conducting the necessary testing and data analyses to institute changes in EPA policies on the use of birds in dietary tests, rabbits in eye tests, and mice and rats in cancer studies.

Tens of thousands of animals are used each year in tests to assess the potential toxicity of chemicals to humans and meet the EPA’s regulatory requirements. In these tests, animals are forced to ingest or inhale chemicals or have them applied to their eyes or skin. 

“The EPA’s commitment underscores the agency’s—and a global—movement toward advancing reliable and relevant non-animal testing approaches,” says PETA Managing Director of Regulatory Toxicology Dr. Amy Clippinger. “We look forward to further collaborating with the EPA to efficiently implement robust animal-free tests to meet regulatory requirements.”

PETA will continue to work with the EPA to ensure that today’s announcement is followed by specific guidance clarifying the agency’s acceptance of non-animal testing approaches and how to use them to assess pesticides and industrial chemicals for their potential to cause eye irritation, skin sensitization, skin absorption, and more.

The EPA first announced its intention of ending most tests on animals by 2035 during the first Trump administration.

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