Global Progress Made as Skin Allergy Tests Go Animal-Free

Here’s some progress that feels good all over! In a groundbreaking development that will prevent countless animals from suffering in experiments, a first-of-its kind method of testing chemicals that doesn’t use a single animal has gained international approval.

This new method combines multiple non-animal tests together into one formal, defined approach to test chemicals for their ability to cause an allergic reaction on the skin. The approach can replace current skin allergy tests using animals – experiments in which their fur is shaved and a chemical is applied to their skin.

Now that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has approved this method, all 38 member countries of the OECD – including the UK, the US, and European Union member states – must accept it for legally required chemical toxicity tests. This means we can expect to see an immediate global shift away from using animals in skin allergy tests.

How Animals Suffer for Skin Allergy Tests

Animals used in skin allergy testing suffer from a variety of adverse effects, such as swelling, blistering, and inflammation, before they’re killed and dissected.

In the UK, hundreds and sometimes thousands of animals are used each year in skin allergy tests. Across the EU, more than 47,000 animals were used in these tests in just one year.

Not only does the new approach replace these cruel tests, a 2018 study also revealed that it provides more human-relevant results than tests on animals – a win for animals and humans! PETA scientists have hosted multiple webinars on using these superior, non-animal methods for skin allergy testing.