The Environmental Protection Agency plans to significantly reduce its reliance on animal testing for studying the safety of chemicals, with a goal of eliminating all experiments on mammals by 2035. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler outlined the plan in a memo on Tuesday that argued for alternative testing methods, including computer modeling and laboratory studies. “Scientific advancements exist today that allow us to better predict potential hazards for risk assessment purposes without the use of traditional methods that rely on animal testing,” Wheeler said.

Reuters Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler has announced plans to dramatically reduce and eventually eliminate the agency's reliance on animal testing for chemical studies.

To help advance animal-free tests, the EPA said it is awarding $4.25 million to five universities to encourage research and development of alternative methods. According to Wheeler’s memo, by 2025 the EPA will cut animal testing ― including reducing mammal study requests and funding ― by 30% and will completely eliminate it by 2035. Any mammal studies requested or funded by the EPA after 2035 will require the administrator’s approval on a case-by-case basis.

unoL via Getty Images The EPA would completely eliminate the use of animals in chemical studies by 2035. Any mammal studies requested or funded by the EPA after 2035 will require Administrator approval on a case-by-case basis.