New recommendations to assist UK move away from animals in chemical safety assessments

The UK is well-positioned to lead the way on the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) for chemical safety assessments to help reduce, refine and potentially replace animal testing, according to a new report from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (HSAC).

NAMs are defined by HSAC as every method that can enhance the assessment and regulation of hazardous chemicals by improving the relevance, performance and reliability of toxicological testing, based upon an understanding of the modes of action of substances, and support a transition away from mammalian testing.