On June 22, President Obama signed into law the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, an long overdue update of toxic substance regulations in the US. 

The new law includes significant changes to how U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests potentially hazardous chemicals by decreasing animal tests and emphasizing modern non-animals alternatives. This move could potentially save tens of thousands of animals from painful tests each year.

Among other provisions the new law requires industry to first look to non-animal methods of conducting the research before submitting data to EPA. 

The validity of using animals in experiments has been increasingly called into question. A  2007 National Research Council report  noted that, "using the results of animal tests to predict human health effects involves a number of assumptions and extrapolations that remain controversial.” The report called for a move away from animal tests in favour of tests that focus on how human cells react to toxins.

We applaud the bipartisan effort that brought this new law to fruition. Special acknowledgement to Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) the chief sponsor and to and David Vitter (R-La.) a lead sponsor of the legislation. aAnd special thanks to Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) who worked behind the scenes to promote alternatives to animal testing.