{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research","slug":"fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research","title":"FDA updates rules to reduce animal testing in research","subtitle":"New regulations replace 'animal tests' with 'nonclinical tests' and support human-based research.","excerpt":"The FDA is updating its regulations to remove language that could suggest animal testing is the only way to generate safety information for regulatory decisions. The move aligns with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 and is part of a broader HHS effort to accelerate human-based research.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T22:45:51.954Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-09-21T22:11:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-21T22:45:51.954Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":42,"critic":65,"hype":41,"notes":{"trust":"Central claims attributed to named bodies, but key details rely on anonymous sourcing and lack of specific dates.","critic":"Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and explains why the story matters, but lacks detail on future actions.","hype":"Headline promises a significant shift, but the body of the text indicates a more gradual regulatory update."}},"tags":["#FDA","#AnimalTesting","#BiomedicalResearch","#HHS","#NIH"],"entities":["Food and Drug Administration (FDA)","Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)","National Institutes of Health (NIH)","Robert F. Kennedy Jr."],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["The FDA is updating regulations to remove language that implies animal testing is the sole acceptable method for generating safety data for regulatory decisions.","The new rule replaces terms like 'animal tests' with 'nonclinical tests' to align with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0.","The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a department-wide initiative to accelerate human-based research and reduce reliance on animal testing.","HHS stated that these changes are expected to spare hundreds of non-human primates and over a million horseshoe crabs annually."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating its regulations to remove language that could suggest animal testing is the only acceptable method for generating safety information for regulatory decisions. The agency's new rule replaces terms such as 'animal tests' and 'animal studies' with the broader terms 'nonclinical tests' and 'nonclinical studies'. This change aligns the regulations with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which was enacted in 2022."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The FDA's action is part of a broader initiative announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to accelerate human-based research and reduce reliance on animal testing across its agencies. HHS stated that its agencies, including the FDA, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), have launched more than 20 initiatives. These efforts aim to modernize how the federal government conducts, funds, and evaluates biomedical research. HHS indicated that some of these changes are expected to spare hundreds of non-human primates and more than one million horseshoe crabs annually."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced more than $88 million in biomedical infrastructure investments to support human-based research. The NIH also plans to establish a new laboratory at the NIH Clinical Center that will combine human organoids, robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced data capabilities. Additionally, the NIH is seeking to add scientists with human-based research expertise to its grant-review process and is assessing the feasibility of annually reporting the number of live vertebrate animals used at NIH-funded institutions."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on timing of initiatives"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The Epoch Times digest states that HHS has launched more than 20 initiatives toward these goals during President Donald Trump's administration. In contrast, Florida's Voice digest states the department said the moves expand more than 20 initiatives launched since Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"No left- or centre-rated outlet reported on this story. The unrated reports from Animal Wellness Action and The Center for a Humane Economy mention that the FDA's rule and the bipartisan FDA Modernization Act 3.0 are not identical, with the latter containing a statutory technical correction that the FDA cannot make through regulation. This detail was not mentioned in any of the right-rated reports."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"The Epoch Times","url":"https://theepochtimes.com/us/hhs-makes-more-strides-to-curb-animal-testing-in-labs-modernize-biomedical-research-6092977","headline":"HHS Makes More Strides to Curb Animal Testing in Labs, Modernize Biomedical Research","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T22:11:44.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Florida’s Voice","url":"https://flvoicenews.com/hhs-accelerates-human-based-research-reduces-animal-testing","headline":"HHS accelerates human-based research, reduces animal testing","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T21:05:35.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Animal Wellness Action","url":"https://animalwellnessaction.org/hhs-moves-to-scale-down-animal-use-in-research-and-testing","headline":"HHS Moves to Scale Down Animal Use in Research and Testing","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T20:53:26.000Z"},{"sourceName":"American Greatness","url":"https://amgreatness.com/2026/09/21/rfk-jr-announces-latest-moves-to-phase-out-animal-testing-in-scientific-research","headline":"RFK Jr. Announces Latest Moves to Phase Out Animal Testing in Scientific Research › American Greatness","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T20:34:40.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Dallas Express News","url":"https://dallasexpress.com/health/hhs-accelerates-shift-to-human-based-research-reduces-animal-testing","headline":"HHS Accelerates Shift To Human-Based Research, Reduces Animal Testing","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T20:30:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"wbap.com","url":"https://wbap.com/2026/09/21/hhs-accelerates-shift-to-human-based-research-reduces-animal-testing","headline":"HHS Accelerates Shift To Human-Based Research, Reduces Animal Testing","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T20:30:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"news-pravda.com","url":"https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/21/2609427.html","headline":"BREAKING: HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. effective immediately is SHIFTING AWAY FURTHER from cruel, inhumane and unnecessary animal testing — announcing a direct final rule from the FDA and actions from NIH","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T18:40:42.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Center for a Humane Economy","url":"https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org/hhs-moves-to-scale-down-animal-use-in-research-and-testing","headline":"HHS Moves To Scale Down Animal Use In Research And Testing","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T16:53:29.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Washington Examiner","url":"https://washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/4735599/trump-health-agencies-fast-track-end-animal-testing","headline":"Trump health agencies fast-track end to animal testing","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T15:00:00.000Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":0,"centre":0,"right":100},"count":{"left":0,"centre":0,"right":7},"totalSources":9,"untracked":2,"rated":7,"observedAt":"2026-09-22T00:45:35.974397+00:00"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-09-22T01:30:20.296Z","closedAt":null,"checks":10,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":[],"centre":[],"right":["Right-rated reports focused on the shift away from animal testing and the modernization of biomedical research. Several outlets highlighted that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is accelerating human-based research and reducing reliance on animal testing. The Dallas Express News and wbap.com reported that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated, 'We are moving HHS toward a new era of biomedical research that puts human biology at the center of science.' The Epoch Times digest noted that HHS has launched more than 20 initiatives toward these goals during President Donald Trump’s administration. American Greatness digest mentioned RFK Jr. announcing moves to phase out animal testing. Washington Examiner digest reported that Trump administration health agencies are fast-tracking the end of animal testing. News-pravda.com digest quoted HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. saying, 'We are modernizing outdated regulations, investing in human-based technologies, and breaking down barriers that have kept...'"],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"left","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"veryLow":1,"low":1,"mixed":2,"high":3,"unknown":2},"ownershipDistribution":{"billionaire":2,"independent":2},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"Washington Examiner","url":"https://washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/4735599/trump-health-agencies-fast-track-end-animal-testing","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T15:00:00.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"Washington, District of Columbia, United States","count":1},{"country":"Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, United States","count":1},{"country":"Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States","count":1},{"country":"New York, New York, United States","count":1}],"outlets":[{"name":"Washington Examiner","url":"https://washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/4735599/trump-health-agencies-fast-track-end-animal-testing","headline":"Trump health agencies fast-track end to animal testing","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T15:00:00.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"leanRight","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Washington, District of Columbia, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"The Center for a Humane Economy","url":"https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org/hhs-moves-to-scale-down-animal-use-in-research-and-testing","headline":"HHS Moves To Scale Down Animal Use In Research And Testing","publishedAt":"2026-09-21T16:53:29.000Z","leaningSide":null,"leaningRating":"unknown","factualityRating":"unknown","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"news-pravda.com","url":"https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/21/2609427.html","headline":"BREAKING: HHS Sec. 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They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"citation":{"recommended":"MediaBias News, \"FDA updates rules to reduce animal testing in research\", https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research","canonicalUrl":"https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research","instructions":["Cite and link the canonical article URL, not the API, markdown mirror, homepage, or an original outlet URL.","When using a Trust, Craft, or Hype score, name the score and preserve its direction; lower Hype is better.","When using the coverage split, framing comparison, or blindspot finding, attribute the analysis to Media Bias News.","Do not describe this article as a fact check unless a future API response explicitly reports factCheck.status as performed."]},"links":{"canonical":"https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research","json":"https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research","markdown":"https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research.md","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology"}}}