Endocrine Disruption and the Future of Animal Testing: A Legal Analysis of EU Regulatory Barriers in Balancing Animal Welfare, Public Health, and the Internal Market

This report aims to identify the legal barriers to the transition toward non-animal testing in the assessment of chemical toxicity within the European Union, with particular attention to substances with endocrine-disrupting properties. To this end, it undertakes a comprehensive analysis of EU law, ranging from the foundational Treaties—which already enshrine binding obligations concerning, inter alia, animal welfare and public health protection—to the relevant secondary legislation. This is further complemented by an examination of the role and impact of EU executive acts and the activities of Union agencies.