In an article published on March 8, 2018 by regulatory news provider Chemical Watch, reporter Emma Davies informed that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its draft strategy for promoting the use of alternative toxicity tests (referred to as new approach methodologies, NAMs) in the evaluation of chemicals under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This document is being prepared in response to the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act which requires that EPA completes its NAM strategy by June 22, 2018. The overall goal is to promote a broader use of NAMs in support of TSCA decisions, what should allow reducing and eventually replacing toxicity testing with vertebrate animals. To reach this goal, EPA plans to work on identifying and developing suitable NAMs and on building confidence in NAM’s reliability and relevance for making TSCA decisions.
In public comments received after the first announcement of EPA’s plans in November 2017, non-governmental organization Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) described EPA’s plans to implement NAMs within TSCA as “over-reaching,” pointing out that not all potential modes of toxicity can be assessed by NAMs that are currently available. Similar concerns have been voiced by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) who sees a “long-way” until regulatory acceptance of NAMs for complex endpoints (FPF reported).
Public comments are being accepted on the currently published draft as well. On April 10, 2018, a public discussion will be held in Washington D.C., U.S., which can also be attended via webcast.
Read more
Emma Davies (March 8, 2018). “U.S. EPA publishes draft strategy to promote alternative tests.” Chemical Watch
Emma Davies (November 9, 2017). “U.S. EPA has first public input on alternative test methods for TSCA.” Chemical Watch
Reference
U.S. EPA (March , 2018). “Draft strategic plan on alternative test methods and strategies to reduce vertebrate animal testing.”
