Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Position Statement on Animal Welfare

The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition brings together people who share a common concern about toxic chemicals in our homes, places of work, and the products we use every day. This concern extends beyond protecting human health to include avoiding potential harm to lab animals, companion animals and wildlife, and the health of the planet we all share.

There is ample scientific evidence demonstrating that unregulated toxic chemicals are already exacting a toll on the health of animals and people. Yet current U.S. law allows companies to sell dangerous chemicals with little regard for their effects on living things.

Another flaw in our current system is that it allows unnecessary testing on animals to determine risk to human health. The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families campaign does not support unnecessary, repeated or senseless testing of toxic chemicals on animals. Instead, we favor the adoption of research methods that minimize reliance on animal testing. We believe the bill introduced to reform the nation’s toxic chemical laws should promote the development and use of viable alternatives to animal testing.

We welcome the support of animal welfare groups and their members in this important challenge. Changing the way our society tests, produces, and uses toxic chemicals will help all species on the planet.