Good news from Brussels! The European Union has adopted a new science agenda, the ERA Policy Agenda 2025–2027. And there is something special in it: for the first time, animal-free innovation will have its own place, with an action that revolves entirely around the development and application of research methods without laboratory animals – the so-called New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
The Netherlands will play a leading role in this as co-chair. This means that we will not only participate, but also help decide how this action will be organised. The icing on the cake? We at Proefdiervrij have been asked to provide substantive input. Good news for millions of laboratory animals!
What exactly is ERA?
The European Research Area (ERA) is a European partnership in the field of research and innovation. The aim is to blur national boundaries in science, stimulate collaboration and make it easier to move knowledge, data and researchers between countries.
To achieve this, the EU countries draw up an agenda every few years with themes and actions that they can voluntarily participate in. The more countries participate, the greater the joint progress. This means that each country does not have to reinvent the wheel, and European priorities – such as the current development of animal-free research methods – can be tackled jointly.
Europe is taking action
This new ERA agenda was adopted in May 2025. An important part of this is an action that focuses on developing and scaling up animal-free methods for biomedical research and for assessing medicines and medical devices. Debby Weijer, director of Proefdiervrij, says:
“That is of course great news for animals and humans. As Proefdiervrij, we were asked to think along about this action. Of course, we will continue to put the interests of animals first and at the same time show why more human-oriented research is so urgently needed: because it leads to more reliable research results.”
What does this mean for laboratory animals?
The fact that animal-free innovation is now so clearly included in European research policy shows that something has really been set in motion. In Europe, millions of animals are still used for research every year. These are often painful tests that do not always produce useful results for humans.
But the fact that their importance is now being recognised at the highest level is significant. With this step, Europe recognises that it is time for change. And just as importantly: laboratory animals are finally given a voice. Their suffering is no longer taken for granted.
Of course, this is just the beginning. For the animals in the lab, nothing may change today and the implementation still has to take shape. But we are hopeful. Because that is exactly how change begins. Step by step, but in the right direction!
Want to stay informed? Or do you want to read more news like this?
