Strategic Plan to Promote the Development and Implementation of Alternative Test Methods Within the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Program

The Strategic Plan to Promote the Development and Implementation of Alternative Test Methods Within the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Program is a national sectoral strategic plan of the United States of America. This Strategic Plan has three core components: (1) identifying, developing and integrating NAMs for TSCA decisions; (2) building confidence that the NAMs are scientifically reliable and relevant for TSCA decisions; and (3) implementing the reliable and relevant New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for TSCA decisions. EPA has identified eight current/near-term (<3 years) needs and activities. Completing these activities will result in moving towards five intermediate-term (3-5 years) objectives. These time frames, needs and activities provide the basis for developing NAMs, establishing reliability and relevance criteria for the NAMs, and implementing NAMs to inform decisions made under TSCA. EPA’s long-term goal is to move towards making TSCA decisions with NAMs in order to reduce, refine or replace vertebrate animal testing. Achieving this goal will require EPA to maintain a high level of commitment to identifying, developing, and integrating NAMs for implementation under TSCA and to work closely with stakeholders at every step. To ensure the success of this Strategic Plan, EPA has established an internal TSCA NAM Team (TNT) to take advantage of expertise and resources within the Agency. The TNT will oversee the implementation of this Strategic Plan and be responsible for collaborating with stakeholders and the public.