The Shocking News - 3.7 Million Animal Experiments Carried Out in 2010

                                                           

The latest animal experiments statistics from the Home Office for 2010 show an increase of 3% (over 150,000) in animal experiments since 2009 – the equivalent of 10,205 experiments beginning every day. This increase is despite a Government pledge to reduce the number of animals used in experiments.

                                                                                                                              

The increase was mainly down to breeding of animals that are genetically modified (GM) and those that have potentially harmful mutations (HM), which was up by 6% to 1.6 million. GM and HM animals now make up 54% of all tests. This dramatic and sustained increase in GM animal use raises many welfare concerns regarding the suffering experienced by these animals.

                                                                                       

Despite overwhelming public opposition to the use of primates, 4,688 tests were carried out on primates. Although a slight overall decrease in the number of animals, there was an overall increase of 10% in number of procedures - reflecting increased re-use of animals. There was a shocking 72% increase in the numbers of tests on new world primates, such as marmosets.

                                                                                    

The number of tests on mice was up by 2% (2,670,067), new world monkeys up 78% (1,103) birds up 12% (142,034), and fish up 23% (490,944).

                                                                                                                   

The huge numbers of animals being experimented on is bad enough, but it is shocking that 69% of procedures were not conducted under anaesthesia; this is an increase from 65% in 2009.

                                                                                   

Despite a government pledge to end household product testing on animals, they were again used for household product tests (24 animals).

                                                                         

Use of animals for fundamental research in universities continues to rise and was up by 10%. Fundamental research is scientific investigation for its own sake, without regard as to whether or not the knowledge discovered will be of any practical use. It is a field where the animal researchers have enjoyed almost complete immunity from accountability or scientific challenge.

                                                                                      

The use of animals in procedures for chemicals testing rose 48%, probably as a result of new EU chemicals legislation REACH. 

                                                                                        

There were 7,688 toxicological tests carried on foodstuffs (mostly testing the safety of shellfish), 16,977 tests for agricultural products (such as pesticides, herbicides and fungicides), and 27,104 tests carried out on industrial chemicals.

                                                              

Animals continue to be used in their thousands for toxicity procedures such as skin irritation, eye toxicity and acute lethal toxicity. The use of animals in skin and eye irritation has risen by 51% (696) and 20% (513) respectively) even though there are valid alternatives.

                                                                                       

Animals also continue to be used in disturbing tests such as thermal injury and physical trauma.

                                                                                           

Contrary to the UK being hailed as a nation of animal lovers, 173 horses, 10,138 rabbits, 13,586 guinea pigs, 3,727 dogs and 152 cats were subjected to distressing experiments.

                                                                        

However, as shocking as it is, the figure of 3.7 million experiments being carried out on animals in 2010 does not tell the whole story. It does not include the millions more animals would have been bred for these experiments but never made it, they either died in the breeding facilities or were purposely killed for being ‘imperfect’ or surplus to requirement.

                                                                              

Despite a government pledge to reduce animals in research, millions continue to suffer and die in UK laboratories, even when tests are redundant or alternatives are available. The Home Office and research industry continually claim that animals are only used when absolutely necessary and yet the evidence clearly suggests otherwise; a recent review by the UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, for example, found that 26 veterinary drugs were being tested on animals when there was no longer any scientific need. The review prompted a change in the licences for these drugs, sparing the lives of an estimated 38,000 animals.

The Home Office should be at the very least weeding out all obsolete and redundant animal tests by enforcing the legal requirement that companies have to reduce animal experiments by keeping up to date with scientific and regulatory requirements. The failure to do even this, reinstalls the view that the Government doesn’t give a damn about the suffering of the millions of animals imprisoned and tortured inside UK laboratories. This is why groups like SPEAK will continue to fight for the rights of animals not to be used and abused in laboratories.