LEGISLATION: Roundtable report shapes EC Roadmap for phasing out animal testing inchemical safety

Experts from regulatory agencies, industry, academia, and civil society outline key steps for

transition to a non-animal testing regulatory framework in the EU and globally

BRUSSELS—A new roundtable report on phasing out animal testing in chemical safety assessments

makes a significant contribution to the continuing drive to promote the development and implementation of

non-animal methods.

The “EU Roadmap for Phasing Out Animal Testing for Chemical Safety Assessments: Recommendations from

a Multi-stakeholder Roundtable” report, co-authored by experts from regulatory agencies, industry,

academia, and civil society, promises to play a crucial role in shaping the European Commission’s (EC)

roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessment.

The report responds to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics – Commit to a

Europe Without Animal Testing,” and was coordinated by a coalition of five leading animal protection NGOs,

Cruelty Free Europe, Eurogroup for Animals, European Coalition to End Animal Experiments, Humane World

for Animals, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The roundtable workshop, hosted by the animal organisations in June 2024, brought together a diverse

group of experts who are actively leading and contributing to the development of the EC roadmap and who

collaborated to develop a structured and strategic approach to transitioning to non-animal testing methods.

This newly released roundtable report, published in the ALTEX journal, outlines concrete actions for

regulatory reform and scientific advancement.

Key focus areas include:

Revising chemical legislation to enable increased implementation of non-animal methods

Accelerating acceptance and validation of non-animal approaches

Enhancing data-sharing through EU databases to support scientific progress

Strengthening global cooperation and communication between regulators and researchers

Developing expertise and capacity-building in non-animal methods

Tracking progress with measurable indicators and ensuring long-term funding

Participants emphasized transparency, data accessibility, and sustainable financial support as critical

elements for a successful transition. The voices of 1.2 million citizens have made it clear—the EU must take

decisive steps toward a future where chemical safety is ensured without animal suffering.

Looking ahead, recommendations from this report will help guide discussions at the 3rd European

Commission Conference on the Roadmap in June 2025, a key milestone for evaluating progress and refining

future actions. The final roadmap is expected to be delivered in Q1 2026. With millions of animals being

used around the world in toxicity tests, the transition to non-animal testing is not just a scientific necessity

but an ethical imperative. This report serves as a blueprint for policymakers, regulators, and scientific

communities dedicated to advancing non-animal testing frameworks.

Background information:

Workshop report: EU Roadmap for Phasing Out Animal Testing for Chemical Safety Assessments:

Recommendations from a Multi-stakeholder Roundtable. Walder et al. 2025. ALTEX

(42). doi:10.14573/altex.2503241

3rd EC conference on roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety assessments

FYI

USDA has cracked down on 9 puppy mills since damning ‘Horrible

Hundred’ report came out

In late April, we released our annual Horrible Hundred report on puppy mills, exposing one hundred puppy mills across the

U.S. More than half of these breeders were licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency tasked with upholding

standards of care at many animal facilities, including commercial dog breeders, under the Animal Welfare Act. Then, within

just 30 days of the report’s publication, the USDA took action against 9 of the dealers we featured. We have not seen this

much action taken against dog breeders within such a short period of time in quite a while.  Here are the specific steps the

USDA took: 

- Revoked the licenses of two dealers in Missouri. Marjorie Walker/Price’s Pets had appeared in our report for the fifth

time, and Teresa Rauch/Ratepa Kennels for the third time. 

- Denied a license renewal to one dealer, Clyde Horst of Red Barn Kennel in Wisconsin, who appeared in our report for

the first time. 

- Temporarily suspended the licenses of three dealers: Eva and William “Junior” Yutzy of Wisconsin, who appeared in

the report for the third time, Clemens and Lizzie Borntreger of Kansas, who had appeared in our report for the first time,

and Patty and Mike Talcott in Indiana, who had appeared in our report for the second time. 

- Issued Official Warnings to three dealers in our report: Kimberly Olson  (Iowa), Shannon DeKoning (Kansas) and

Raymond J Yoder (Ohio). 

This overall response leads us to be hopeful about the promise the agency made earlier this year about coming down

hard on chronic violators of dog welfare.  

In February, the USDA joined several other federal agencies to announce a coordinated effort to crack down on chronic dog

welfare violators. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said: “If you are breeding dogs and not meeting the Animal Welfare Act’s

humane standards of care, your time is up.” The announcement was met with hope, as well as skepticism about whether this

could be just a warm and fuzzy P.R. move. But, in addition to the actions taken against Horrible Hundred breeders above, the

USDA has made other progress on dog facilities, as well. First, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

announced a Request for Information that same week, soliciting comments regarding “standards for the care of breeding

female dogs at dog breeding facilities and exercise and socialization of dogs subject to the Animal Welfare Act.” We sprang

into action, submitting detailed recommendations on canine welfare improvements based on science. We also mobilized the

public; almost 49,000 comments were sent to the agency in support of stronger standards of care. To be sure, many of the

horrific puppy mills in our report are still operating despite histories of mistreating animals and are still USDA-licensed. But

it’s worth giving credit where it’s due. Whether the momentum in the agency’s action against problem puppy mills is just

beginning, or is a short-lived burst to allay recent criticisms, remains to be seen. But we are hopeful that America’s love for

dogs will continue to spark further commitment at the agencies in charge of this effort. 

The USDA can continue the momentum by:

- Releasing official rules strongly enhancing dog care standards. 

- Cracking down on the shell game of license renewals, wherein licensees with a problematic history voluntarily cancel

their licenses, only to have a close associate or family member acquire a new license on the same property with the same

dogs days later. 

- Working with the U.S. Department of Justice and/or local law enforcement officials to report suffering animals

documented during USDA inspections. This could have helped, for example, a “severely underweight” poodle who was

found at two consecutive inspections at a breeder in Ohio. The USDA temporarily suspended the breeder’s license in April

but apparently did not seize the animal. It is unknown if she survived. 

- Revoking the licenses of dealers who repeatedly refuse or avoid inspections, such as Mr. Cervantes at Verified Puppy,

New Prague, Minnesota, who was in our Horrible Hundred report for becoming vulgar and belligerent with USDA

inspectors and refusing to allow inspections. USDA inspectors have not returned to this facility since June 2025. 

- Working more closely with states that inspect commercial breeders, such as Missouri, where the state inspectors have

found repeated, significant violations at several breeding operations that the USDA has not cited nor even visited in a

year or more. 

- Making a concerted effort to license and regulate more online pet sellers who are evading licensure.

Our teams put a lot of work into the Horrible Hundred report, and we are glad to see signs of the USDA’s seriousness

about cracking down on puppy mill cruelty. When you support our work, you are supporting a comprehensive approach,

one that combines investigation, interaction with agency officials, public awareness efforts and policy reform. The

animals deserve nothing less.