The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced two major scientific advancements aimed at modernising safety reviews for new chemicals and pesticides.
The announcement, made on August 27, 2026, also signals a continued push by the agency to reduce and ultimately eliminate its reliance on animal testing.
According to the EPA, the new methods will help assess potential inhalation and oral risks of certain chemicals and pesticides faster and with greater human relevance.
The agency says the advancements reflect its broader commitments to transparency, regulatory certainty, and the protection of human health and the environment.
The first advancement involves modernising how the EPA assesses surfactants, which are chemicals widely used in soaps, detergents, and cleaning products.
The EPA has updated its scientific framework to better predict how these specific formulas may irritate the lungs using three-dimensional human airway tissue models.
The agency describes this updated approach as providing “science that is faster, more human relevant, and less [dependent on animal testing]” than previous methods.
The second advancement involves the adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, known as the GHS mixtures equation, to predict oral toxicity for some pesticides.
This decision follows a comprehensive analysis conducted with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which evaluated nearly 700 pesticide formulations and confirmed the equation’s reliability in identifying minimally toxic products.
By using globally recognised, data-driven calculation formulas, the agency can accurately assess risks based on a mixture’s known ingredients, removing the need to test the final blended product on animals.
Both advancements are part of the EPA’s stated goal of eliminating all mammalian animal testing by 2035, a target the current administration has made central to its scientific reform agenda.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin highlighted the significance of the developments, saying: “EPA is leading the way on eliminating animal testing by embracing cutting-edge, gold standard science like never before.”
Zeldin added: “With these new scientific advancements, we are fostering American innovation and raising the bar when it comes to the research methods used when evaluating new chemicals and pesticides.”
The use of internationally recognised standards such as the GHS formula also positions the EPA more closely alongside global regulatory bodies, potentially streamlining cross-border chemical assessments.
Industry observers are likely to welcome the developments, as faster and more predictable toxicity assessments could reduce costs and timelines for companies seeking approval for new chemical products.