Updates to US EPA list of New Approach Methodologies for chemical assessment

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) updated its List of Alternative Test Methods and Strategies (or New Approach Methodologies [NAMs]). The updates include the addition of 13 more in vitro methods and approaches to the list, including those that address immunotoxicity, eye irritation, skin sensitisation, phototoxicity, endocrine disruption, and fish toxicity, as well as the inclusion of additional in silico tools and two decision frameworks. This is also the first time the list has been accompanied by instructions for how stakeholders can nominate additional NAMs to the list.

As a part of its EPIC webinar series that has been ongoing since 2018, PETA Science Consortium International, the EPA, and partners will co-host a webinar on this topic in the coming month.

The EPA first published the NAMs list in 2018, and this is the third time it’s been updated. More information about the list can be found at the EPA website here.