In 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the Guidance on the use of read-across for chemical safety assessment for food and feed.1 The read across approach itself is not new; it has been formally recognised by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) since the introduction of REACH2 in 2007. While REACH defines the legally binding framework for read-across, the EFSA guidance provides a practical assessment approach in a different regulatory context. Both authorities agree that ‘read-across (…) is one of the most common alternatives to animal testing.’ This article highlights the animal welfare perspective and explores the data sharing opportunities arising from the new EFSA guidance.