Closed consultation: Draft strategy to replace, reduce or refine vertebrate animal testing

From: Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada

We have developed a draft strategy to guide our efforts to replace, reduce or refine the use of vertebrate animals for the purposes of assessing chemicals under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). Comments were invited on this draft strategy, including the key elements to be addressed under the strategy.

Who was the focus of this consultation

Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada sought comments from:

• academia
• researchers
• health professionals
• Indigenous partners
• industry stakeholders
• members of the public
• other interested parties
• animal welfare organizations
• consumer and non-governmental organizations

Key questions for discussion

To guide feedback, ideas and input were sought on 2 key questions:

• What are your views on the proposed elements?
• What additional information or considerations, if any, should be included in the strategy to replace, reduce or refine vertebrate animal testing under CEPA?

The input that was received through this process will be used to revise the draft strategy. A summary of the input received is available in the What We Heard Report for this consultation.

The strategy is expected to be published alongside the Plan of Priorities by June 2025.

Privacy Statement

• Privacy Notice

  The personal information you provide to Health Canada will be collected by the Health Impacts of Chemicals Program under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) and handled in accordance with the Privacy Act.

• Why are we collecting your personal information?

  The information you provide will be used to inform revisions of the draft strategy to replace, reduce or refine the use of vertebrate animals for the purposes of assessing chemicals under CEPA. A summary report will be created based on the feedback received, and aspects of the report may be released publicly. However, no identifying information will be included in any reports, all responses will be summarized and aggregated to reduce the risk you might be identified.

• What are your rights?

  You have the right to access and request a correction and/or notation to your personal information. You also have a right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you feel your personal information has been handled improperly. For more information about these rights, or about how we handle your personal information, please contact the erhsdgeneral-dssergenerale@hc-sc.gc.ca.

• For more information

  The collection of your personal information is described in Info Source at infosource.gc.ca. Refer to the personal information bank (PIB) PSU 938 – Outreach Activities.

Related information

• Bill S-5: An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act and to repeal the Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act
• Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act
• Use of new approach methods in risk assessment
• Guidance document for the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers)
• New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers)
• Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 157, Number 2
• Implementing the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• Notice of intent on the development of a strategy to guide the replacement, reduction, or refinement of vertebrate animal testing under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)
• What We Heard: Notice of intent on the development of a strategy to guide the replacement, reduction, or refinement of vertebrate animal testing under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)
• What We Heard: Draft Strategy to Replace, Reduce or Refine Vertebrate Animal Testing under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Contact us

Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada

Email: erhsdgeneral-dssergenerale@hc-sc.gc.ca