The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA) is calling for a dedicated UK Government Strategy on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and related predictive in vitro models.

The CTPA held a special seminar to discuss this call for progress in the adoption of animal-free safety science for chemicals. Prof Knight, from Queen Mary's Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, attended the event contributing to the discussion and resulting press release shown below:

The cosmetics and personal care industry is a global pioneer in safety testing methods that do not use animals, also known as Non-Animal New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). The industry is proud of its investment and success in developing non-animal methods to ensure human and environmental safety. Therefore, we are calling for the UK Government to publish a dedicated UK NAMs strategy, showing our shared commitment to increasing the use and regulatory acceptance of cutting-edge, human-relevant scientific methods to ensure human and environmental safety. This is one of the key asks in CTPA's Manifesto published ahead of the next General Election (visit CTPA Manifesto 2024).

Animal testing of cosmetic products and ingredients has been banned since 2004 and 2009 respectively, in the UK and EU. In the UK, the cosmetics industry was already seeking alternatives to animal testing in the 1980s, and in 1997 was able to completely move away from animal testing of products through a voluntary industry initiative. The UK and EU cosmetics industry wholeheartedly supports these bans and has invested over €50 million over the past 25 years, making it a global leader in NAMs. The cosmetics industry takes great pride in its commitment to replacing animal testing and sharing its knowledge and expertise on NAMs to continue to prove the safety of its ingredients and products.

As a milestone on the path towards a dedicated UK NAMs strategy, CTPA organised on 25 April 2024 a seminar 'For a Government Strategy on Non-Animal Methodologies'. The seminar was a resounding success and demonstrated why implementing a UK Government strategy is so important. Industry representatives from both the cosmetics and chemicals sectors, NGOs, UK Government representatives, academics and NAMs experts collaborated to develop potential key content of a strategy during dynamic workshop sessions. By convening key parties with a shared interest in progress, we hope to expedite the UK's strategy for moving to animal-free science.

The outcomes from this seminar will support the UK Government in its existing commitment to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of technologies to reduce the use of animals in science. Andrew Griffith MP, Minister of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, shared a video message at the seminar where he conveyed the Government's commitment to driving forward the development and use of non-animal scientific methods through publication of a plan, and that the Government is doubling its investment in non- animal methods.

Dr Emma Meredith, Director-General of CTPA said:

"CTPA wholeheartedly welcomes the UK Government's intention to draw up a plan to accelerate the use of NAMs and as this is a key ask in the CTPA Manifesto ahead of the General Election, I offer our full support to the Government. A strategy will show the UK's dedication to becoming a world-leader on this exciting journey to revolutionise the way that chemicals have traditionally been safety tested and CTPA is extremely pleased to have convened a neutral forum for NAMs experts, promoting open discussion about how to seize opportunities and overcome challenges."

Dr Fiona Sewell, Head of Toxicology at the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) said:

"Our vision for a modern science-based approach to UK chemicals regulation, published earlier this year with the British Toxicology Society and building on an ongoing collaboration, highlighted the investment and commitment from Government that will be required to develop a NAM-based testing framework that provides the highest level of human and environmental health protection. Collaboration across the UK science-base will continue to be critical to embedding NAMs in the regulatory framework and we were pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the important discussions at the CTPA event."

Dr Donna Macmillan, Director, Education and Regulatory Engagement, International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) said:

"The conference highlighted that animal free safety assessment is not just theoretical. We can utilise tools currently in practice along with developing new, human-relevant, and predictive methods which can be used by industry and regulators to make robust safety decisions."

Professor Martin Knight, Co-Director of the Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London and member of the Animals in Science Committee said:

"For a wide range of products from cosmetics to medicines, NAMs, organ-chips and other predictive in vitro models have great potential to transform the assessment of safety, efficacy and environmental impact. I therefore welcome the activity of the CTPA in highlighting the need for a UK Government Strategy to drive translation and regulatory approval of these non-animal approaches in collaboration with key stakeholders."

The CTPA NAMs seminar builds on CTPA's ongoing commitment to supporting the cosmetics and personal care industry in the development, promotion and regulatory acceptance of NAMs. Examples of CTPA's work include stakeholder workshops, practical training for safety assessors and collaboration with the global cosmetics industry and regulators. See the FAQ section on animal testing at www.thefactsabout.co.uk/faqs for further details. CTPA is also increasing its collaboration with sister associations from the wider chemicals sector, to promote the use of NAMs beyond the cosmetics industry and is proud to be a member of ICCS.