Full Breakdown
EPA Expands Alternative Testing Methods, Targeting End of Mammalian Animal Tests by 2035
6/3/2026, 1:18:44 AM
Policy Announcement: New Approach Methods Added to EPA’s Approved List
On 2 June 2026 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the addition of 13 new “New Approach Methods” (NAMs) to its roster of approved alternatives for chemical and pesticide assessment. The agency also launched a two-step nomination pipeline that allows companies, NGOs, and academic researchers to submit additional non-animal testing technologies for EPA review. The moves are presented as the first policy changes of this type since 2021 and are framed as steps toward the agency’s goal of eliminating all mammalian animal testing by 2035.
Background: Prior Deadlines and Shifts in Animal-Testing Policy
The Trump administration originally set a 2035 deadline to end testing of chemicals on mammals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The subsequent Biden administration reportedly removed that deadline, a claim noted by the Daily Caller. The current announcement revives the 2035 target and expands the list of approved alternatives for the first time in five years.
Key Figures and Groups
- Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator, leads the agency’s implementation of the new NAMs.
- Anthony Bellotti, Founder and President of the advocacy group White Coat Waste, has publicly supported the reinstated deadline.
- President Donald Trump is referenced as the original proponent of the 2035 goal, while President Joe Biden is cited as having rescinded it.
- White Coat Waste and other external stakeholders are invited to nominate additional methods through the new pipeline.
Data: New Methods and Projected Reductions
The 13 approved NAMs include:
- A reconstructed-human-cell assay for eye-hazard evaluation.
- A three-dimensional human tissue model to assess skin damage from light exposure.
- Integrated data sets for predicting skin allergies and chemical irritation.
EPA officials estimate that recent substitutions of traditional testing for dibutyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate spared roughly 1,600 rats and mice. The agency’s broader target remains the complete phase-out of mammalian testing by 2035.
Official Statements from the EPA
Administrator Zeldin said the agency is “accelerating the shift to modern, gold-standard science” and that expanding high-quality alternatives will enable “faster, more protective decisions while reducing animal testing.” The EPA emphasized that the streamlined nomination process will evaluate submissions for reliability, transparency, and reproducibility before incorporation into regulatory reviews.
Criticism and Opposition: Advocacy and Political Counterpoints
White Coat Waste praised the EPA’s actions, describing them as a restoration of a “historic Trump-era plan.” The group also criticized the Biden administration for “quietly scrapping” the 2035 deadline and condemned past animal-testing practices linked to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Additionally, Representative Dan Steube introduced legislation aimed at cutting NIH funding for dog testing, reflecting broader legislative opposition to animal-based research.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- The Daily Caller asserts that the Biden administration “scrapped” the 2035 deadline, while the Tampa Free Press does not mention any such reversal, leaving the exact status of the deadline under the previous administration unclear.
- Claims that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases funded “abusive animal experiments” appear only in the Daily Caller source and lack corroboration in the other report.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When the Trump Administration makes a commitment, we deliver. With today’s announcement, we’re accelerating the shift to modern, gold standard science – without the use of animal testing – by using new, innovative methods to review chemicals,” — Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator
- “By broadening high-quality alternatives and inviting strong new candidates, we can deliver faster, more protective decisions while reducing animal testing.” — Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator
- “Earlier this year, White Coat Waste proudly joined EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to restore the historic Trump-era plan to phase out animal testing by 2035 after we exposed how the Biden Administration quietly scrapped it behind closed doors,” — Anthony Bellotti, Founder and President, White Coat Waste
- “White Coat Waste was the first to expose Dr. Fauci’s beagle tests and has led the fight to defund all dog labs ever since,” — Anthony Bellotti, White Coat Waste
What’s Next: Nomination Pipeline and Legislative Action
The EPA’s new email-based nomination system will begin accepting submissions immediately, with full reviews to follow for promising candidates. Parallel to the agency’s efforts, Representative Steube’s proposed bill to reduce NIH funding for dog testing signals potential congressional involvement in shaping the future of animal-free research.
