Published January 27, 2026 by PETA Staff. Last Updated February 3, 2026.

If testing on animals makes your skin crawl, we have phenomenal news from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)! Following the EPA’s announcement last week to recommit to phasing out tests on animals, the agency’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) has published a new document outlining how non-animal tests can—and should—be used to assess industrial chemicals for skin irritation.

The document prioritizes the use of reliable and human-relevant non-animal methods over those that use live rabbits to assess skin irritation and corrosion. It provides important clarity to industry and within the EPA on how to submit and review skin irritation data—increasing transparency, consistency, and confidence in the use of non-animal data.  

For years, PETA scientists and the EPA have collaborated on projects to advance reliable, relevant non-animal approaches for chemical testing—ones that can more reliably protect humans and the environment. PETA scientists collaborated with the EPA and other experts to develop this skin irritation framework, and together, they are presenting on it at the upcoming Society of Toxicology annual meeting in San Diego.

In the animal test, a chemical is applied to the shaved backs of rabbits, who are then monitored for two weeks for signs of skin damage, including inflammation, ulcers, and bleeding. The EPA’s move away from reliance on rabbit tests in favor of more reliable, human-relevant non-animal methods is a win for humans and other animals.

This most recent win for 21st-century science follows one in 2024, when the agency clarified how non-animal methods should be prioritized to evaluate the potential of industrial chemicals to irritate the eyes—a document that cited work by PETA scientists.

Currently, PETA scientists are working to replace the use of rats in inhalation tests, cohosting free webinars on how to use non-animal toxicity testing approaches, and much more. We’re driving major progress in replacing tests on animals with non-animal science—stay tuned for more victories as PETA scientists continue to work for change!

What You Can Do

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may now require companies to conduct animal testing for menstrual products, such as tampons, pads, and cups—even when state-of-the-art, animal-free test methods are available.