Zeldin revives push to phase out animal testing

By Ellie Borst | 06/05/2026 01:47 PM EDT

Scientists say the agency’s updated approach may be a step toward replacing expensive animal tests with cheaper — but more limited — lab experiments.

A scientist uses pipettes in a lab.

Scientist and study director Jennifer Molignano pipettes a sample onto the surface of living human skin tissues at a MatTek lab on Jan. 15, 2020, in Ashland, Massachusetts. MatTek performs non-animal testing on cosmetics, skin care products and pharmaceuticals. Steven Senne/AP

EPA updated its list of alternative test methods and strategies, a move that Administrator Lee Zeldin promoted as a step toward eliminating animal testing.

On Tuesday, the agency added more than two dozen guidelines, predictive models and other tools to its list of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for the first time in five years.

The announcement goes hand-in-hand with Zeldin’s revived commitment to the first Trump administration’s goal to end animal testing by 2035.

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“By broadening high-quality alternatives and inviting strong new candidates, we can deliver faster, more protective decisions while reducing animal testing,” Zeldin said in a statement.

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