Achieving zero pollution by 2050 needs regulatory change: a call for policy support of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)

The European Commission is committed to achieving the zero-pollution vision for air, water and soil by 2050. The European Green Deal announced bold action points to achieve a toxic-free environment and a circular economy by 2050, going beyond climate neutrality. The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability towards a Toxic-Free Environment aims to better protect humans and the environment from hazardous chemicals. The risk posed by hazardous chemicals is a systemic problem, driven by production and consumption patterns, as well as the lack of environmental monitoring techniques and remediation solutions and the limited availability and quality of the (eco)toxicological data, especially for exposure to mixtures, needed for a comprehensive safety assessment. 

The six Horizon 2020 research and innovation action projects in the Green Deal Health Cluster – ALTERNATIVE, LIFESAVER, PANORAMIX, PROMISCES, SCENARIOS and ZeroPM, are firmly aligned with the vision and goals of the Green Deal. The projects are establishing new knowledge to support next generation risk assessment and regulation, explore the feasibility of new or improved environmental remediation technologies and hazard assessment methods, and demonstrate innovative solutions to protect health, the environment and natural resources from hazardous chemicals including persistent, mobile and toxic substances. 

This policy brief has been created for policy makers and provides key findings and recommendations from these projects that are deemed essential to achieve the goal of a zero pollution Europe.

Summary

Key findings 

• PFAS need next generation regulation using emerging exposure, chemical grouping, non-standard data and non-animal methodologies
• The current dependence of chemical regulations on animal testing is the Achilles heel for achieving the Green Deal´s zero-pollution ambition

Policy recommendations 

1. Support using exposure, non-standard data and chemical grouping for regulatory action
2. Support the improvement and the validation process of NAMs
3. Support leveraging uncertainty assessment for NAM recognition
4. Provide support for the evolution of a NAM based next-generation regulation
5. Support for the initiative to develop a European roadmap to an animal-free regulatory system

Download the full policy brief below to find out more.

You also be interested in the webinar recording of GD-SO peer-to-peer session: The way forward in the European roadmap for non-animal testing approaches to learn more about the Green Deal Call-funded projects' activities on this topic.