Cruelty Free International has drafted a plan for the future of toxicity testing, which involves providing more funding to enable alternative methods
Cruelty Free International is calling on the EU to realise its commitment to animal protection by providing it with a new six-point plan.
The plan has been given to members of the European Parliament's Petitions Committee, who are also considering a petition signed by more than 100,000 people at its meeting this month.
In the aftermath of the REACH chemical registration deadline in June, the animal rights organisation said it is "concerned" that the risk of animal testing is now even higher.
It said that this is due to the way in which "European authorities are implementing safety requirements to satisfy REACH in addition to the subsequent knock-on effect to cosmetic legislation".
Dr Katy Taylor, Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs at Cruelty Free International, said: “We are deeply saddened that so far at least 2.2 million animals have been forced to suffer in laboratories for REACH.
"Tragically we do not believe that harming animals in the testing of chemicals serves to protect people in any way.
"Time and time again animal testing has proven to be unreliable.
"We urge the Commission and the European Chemicals Agency to fulfil their promise to the public that animal testing should only be used as a ‘last resort’.”
The six-point plan drawn up by Cruelty Free International includes:
Cruelty Free International has been campaigning for new legislation to scale back animal testing and speed up the adoption of alternatives.
In May it criticised the EU for taking too long to approve humane methods.