Government statistics reveal highest number of experiments on animals in 16 years

The RSPCA is urging everyone involved in the use of animals in experiments to significantly step up their efforts towards replacing or avoiding animal use.

Statistics released by the Home Office today (Monday) show that last year more scientific procedures were carried out on animals than any year since 1991.

¿ This year’s figures represent a sixth consecutive annual rise.
¿ In 2007, 3.2 million procedures were carried out, up from 3.01 million in 2006 (a rise of six per cent).
¿ The number of scientific procedures undertaken on animals is now 18 per cent higher (nearly half a million more) than in 2000.

The number of animals used in these experiments was 3,125,826. This includes 3,125 primates, 5,648 dogs, 13,820 rabbits and 281 horses.

RSPCA senior scientist Barney Reed said: “The RSPCA is extremely dismayed that the numbers have risen yet again. Whilst there are now positive signs of progress being made towards replacing the use of animals in some types of experiments, particularly in certain areas of safety testing, much more clearly needs to be done across the board.

“Scientists and the Government repeatedly state that animals are only used where absolutely necessary. Yet with the numbers going up yet again the public will quite rightly question this statement.”

The consistent rises are largely due to the increasing use of GM animals. Their use is five times higher than in 1995, and they are now involved in 36 per cent of all regulated procedures.

Mr Reed added: “Genetic manipulation has the potential to cause suffering not only to the GM animals themselves, but also to the many animals used to produce them. The RSPCA considers that the application of GM technology is excessive. We must question whether creating all these GM animals is really necessary and justified.

“Numbers alone can never convey the ways in which animals can suffer and it is important that the nature and level of suffering is also made clear – the public should know what experiments really mean for the animals concerned.

“Despite repeated calls from the RSPCA for the Home Office figures to be made more meaningful, we are still waiting.”

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