We, the undersigned, are writing to you in response to a letter you acquired on March 15, 2023, from a gaggle of NGOs requesting that the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) resign its goal to prioritize good science whereas lowering checks on animals. That letter’s request stands in stark opposition to overwhelming public and scientific help for the EPA’s efforts to maneuver away from animal checks. We help the alternative of animals in testing, not solely to stop animal struggling but additionally as a result of many checks on animals lack reproducibility and relevance to people and due to this fact impede regulatory efforts to raised defend us and the environment.
We’re involved that publicity to unsafe chemical compounds is closely affecting inclined and weak populations, together with pregnant folks, communities of colour, farmworkers, and youngsters. The animal checks used to make selections about chemical security have important flaws. We wish to see our tax {dollars} put towards a extra protecting regulatory system, with continued growth and implementation of non-animal strategies that reliably present regulators with the data they want.
In 2021, the EPA launched a New Method Methodologies Work Plan to coordinate its efforts to advance non-animal approaches with “the potential to extend the rigor and class of Company assessments.” The plan highlights the significance of evaluating and making use of rising expertise to maintain the company on the forefront of science and poised to greatest consider dangers to human well being and the setting. We totally help the EPA’s continued development of the scientific targets detailed in it.
Sturdy non-animal approaches generate dependable data that’s related to people. In addition they permit for extra speedy evaluation of chemical compounds, enabling quicker elimination of harmful ones from the market and stopping others from ever reaching the market sooner or later. On this approach, non-animal approaches help the administration’s intention to advance environmental justice by defending inclined and weak populations most vulnerable to publicity.
We thanks on your consideration to this necessary concern and for the EPA’s continued work to develop and implement non-animal take a look at strategies.