Why TPI
More and more animal-free testing and research methods are being developed. But it often takes a long time for them to become widely adopted in scientific research and industry, after regulatory bodies have permitted them. Through TPI, the government aims to work with the TPI partners to accelerate the transition to a new standard for animal-free test methods.
Recognition of an animal-free benchmark
With the establishment of this new benchmark, more and more animal tests could be made obsolete. But this would involve changing the entire system, which would take a lot of time and money. The TPI programme is therefore working on aspects including:
- cultural change, for instance through events on animal-free innovations;
- education, by encouraging animal-free educational models;
- new guidelines, which prohibit the use of animal testing if unnecessary.
TPIV vision, mission, and ambition
The Netherlands can be described as a (global) pioneer in our approach to accelerating the transition to animal-free innovations.
Vision: Accelerate the transition to animal-free innovation.
Mission TPI partner programme : Better prediction without laboratory animals.
Ambition TPI partner programme : The Netherlands (TPI) as the catalyst in the national and international transition to animal-free innovation.
TPI policy and objectives (2024-2029)
The policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) on animal testing and animal-free research is divided into three pillars. The Transition to Animal-Free Innovation (TPI) partner programme forms part of Pillar 2.
Image: TPI
Pillar 1 Animal welfare and the 3Rs
As long as animal testing is still necessary, LVVN ensures that it is carried out in accordance with Dutch legislation and regulations. These are derived from the European Directive on animal testing. The Directive sets out regulations to protect laboratory animals across Europe, including in the Netherlands. The government aims to prevent unnecessary animal suffering as much as possible. The 3Rs policy therefore plays an important role: the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal testing. We also promote systematic literature reviews and the preregistration of animal experiments in order to prevent unnecessary duplication of animal research.
More information about animal testing can be found on the Dutch government website (in Dutch).
Pillar 2 TPI policy
A transition requires long-term commitment and can rarely, if ever, be achieved in a linear way. It therefore calls for measurable objectives, with cooperation playing a key role. That is one of the reasons why the Ministry of LVVN, together with stakeholders in the field and six other involved ministries, established the Transition Programme to Animal-Free Innovation (TPI). Cooperation also extends beyond the partner programme itself and includes other parties.
To achieve the mission and ambition of the TPI partner programme, the partners work individually and jointly on activities that contribute to the following five objectives:
Five TPI objectives
Many animal-free innovations and new approaches are already possible, making animal testing obsolete. They include among other things organ-on-a-chip technology, lung models based on mini-organs, artificial intelligence (AI) or 3D culture of human cells. But more is needed.
Strategic themes:
- Promote developments of new and existing animal-free innovations and human subject research.
- Streamline the process for qualifying, validating, accepting and implementing animal-free innovations.
- Support researchers and research areas in making animal testing-free choices.
- Encourage private sector involvement (startups) in the development of animal-free innovations.
For example:
Our goal is to improve scientific practices, facilitate the development of new and better medicines and respond to society’s demand to decrease reliance on animal testing. This is prompting an increasing number of international initiatives aimed at reducing animal testing. Across Europe, stakeholders are increasingly focusing on animal-free innovations as alternatives to animal testing.
The validation, or qualification, acceptance and implementation of animal-free innovations necessitate an international or at least European strategy. In this light, both the TPI programme office (LVVN) and the partners in the partner programme are committed to putting these issues on the European agenda.
Strategic themes:
- Formulate a TPI EU strategy by lobbying for a consistent and cohesive animal-free innovation policy across the EU.
- Advance TPI-oriented international networking by pursuing international research collaborations, funding initiatives and active engagement in decision-making processes.
For example:
News: Next step in accelerating the transition towards animal-free innovation in Europe (May 2025)
TPI is integrated into a broad network, facilitating the engagement of the entire chain of society, science, government and entrepreneurs in accelerating the transition. We capitalise on this by promoting knowledge sharing and conducting a dialogue on the transition to animal-free innovations. The sharing of knowledge and experience is also a vital factor in accelerating the acceptance and application of animal-free innovations.
Strategic themes:
- Increased knowledge sharing and improved dissemination of information.
- Encourage local TPI networks.
- Engage future generations in the transition.
- TPI in education and new as well as existing courses and programmes.
For example:
We support the development of research infrastructures to enhance the accessibility of existing knowledge on animal-free models or New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). In this way, we ensure animal-free innovations are shared and together we strengthen the knowledge chain. This contributes to the application of animal-free innovations.
Strategic themes:
- Make vital residual human tissue more widely available for research.
- Development of a Centre of Animal-free Biomedical Translation (CPBT).
- Increased use of serum-free (FCS-free) in vitro models and culture media.
For example:
- NAMs databases: sharing knowledge and expertise
- Vital Tissue
- 3Rs Centre Utrecht FCS-free database
By promoting open science practices, we aim to ensure that the results of animal testing-free research and animal testing are easier to find and are also more accessible and reusable. This will enhance our ability to disseminate findings from animal-free models. The results of animal testing can in turn be used more effectively and research waste involving the use of laboratory animals is avoided.
Strategic themes:
- Fostering better science through knowledge sharing (FAIR) and ease of finding animal testing and animal-free results and innovations.
- Monitoring/indexing of transition progress.
For example:
- Stimulating knowledge and expertise about NAMs databases
- More nowledge with Fewer Animals (MKMD) Systematic Reviews (in Dutch)
- More nowledge with Fewer Animals (MKMD) Publish Neutral/Negative Animal Experimental Results (in Dutch)
- Beyond Animal Testing Index (BATI)
Pillar 3 Phasing out animal testing where possible within the current European legal framework
In the coming years, the Ministry of LVVN will examine where opportunities exist within the current European legal framework to phase out animal testing. It is important that the safety of humans, animals and the environment continues to be safeguarded. Because of the current legislative and regulatory framework, the focus is mainly on opportunities at European level.
European laws and regulations significantly limit the scope for phasing out animal testing at the national level on a domestic legal basis. Yet, the minister and the House of Representatives have expressed a clear wish to decrease the use of animal testing in the Netherlands. We investigate whether and where there are opportunities within the current European legal and regulatory framework to phase out certain animal testing practices at the national level.
Strategic themes:
- Investigate which animal testing practices in the Netherlands can be phased out within current European laws and regulations.
- Active LVVN contribution (TPI programme office) to European Commission roadmap towards phasing out animal testing for chemical safety assessments.