Ban animal testing for human products and medicines

We demand that the Government bans the use of animal testing/experiments for human medicines and products. This means that animal testing could not be used for new drugs, and other scientific methods would need to be used. We believe modern science can replace animal experiments.

Stop killing animals in the name of science. Why test human drugs on rats and dogs? We believe the public is scandalised by the welfare of research animals. Compel all research to be species-specific, evidence based and using modern science. Use modern scientific methods for 100% of the pre-clinical and clinical trial process.

While the use of animals in science, including for human medicines, generates significant debate, the carefully regulated use of animals in scientific research currently remains necessary to protect humans and the wider environment. The Government therefore does not agree to ban the use of animal testing/experiments for human medicines and products.

The manifesto committed the Government to partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing. This is a long-term goal, and it will need further scientific and technical advancement and validation to reach this point. The use of animals still remains important for understanding how biological systems work, in the development of safe new medicines, treatments and technologies, and in testing chemicals. It protects humans and animals from harm and supports the safety and sustainability of our environment.

In line with our commitment to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science, the Government actively supports and funds the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs). We also work to ensure that the UK continues to have a robust regulatory system for licensing animal studies and enforcing legal standards.

The Government will take steps to place the UK at the forefront of an alternative methods revolution and we believe that advances in a number of areas make the prospects for change much better than they have ever been. We are supporting and accelerating advances in biomedical science and technologies to reduce reliance on the use of animals in research and importantly to avoid some of the scientific limitations of animal models of human diseases. This includes stem cell research, cell culture systems that mimic the function of human organs, imaging and new computer modelling and AI techniques based on very large data sets. DSIT, Home Office and DEFRA ministers have agreed to publish an alternative methods strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods and the phasing out of animal testing. We expect to publish this strategy later this year.

Although much research can be done without using animals, there are still purposes where use of live animals is essential, as the complexity of whole biological systems cannot be reliably replicated using validated alternative methodologies. Animal testing is therefore required by all global medicines regulators, including the UK’s Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), to protect human health and safety. We are working with regulators to see how advances in technology can and will reduce use and phase out use in some areas.

The UK has the highest welfare score in the G7 according to the world Animal Protection Index and some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and the use of animals in science is highly regulated. All establishments are required to have dedicated individuals, including veterinary surgeons with legal responsibilities for the care and welfare of animals, and an ethical review body, which reviews any proposals for the use of animals and promotes the 3Rs of animal use. The UK Home Office regulator conducts an integrated assessment of the compliance of all licence holders including on-site inspections. The Government has published and enforces standards for the care and accommodation of all animals bred, supplied or used for scientific purposes.

The MHRA requires testing on a suitable animal model by developers seeking regulatory approval, in the development of certain new medicines. The MHRA aligns with international regulatory bodies and the pharmaceutical industry in this position. It should be noted that the MHRA does not require all medicines to be tested, by developers, on two species as some drugs lack their primary mode of action in animal species other than primates. However, most drugs do retain their activity in animal species and safety testing in a second species is therefore required for these drugs, with dogs being one of the species that can be used. The MHRA does not itself use dogs in scientific procedures. The Government expects a gradual reduction and adaptation in the use of animals in this context, with some purposes being phased out entirely.

The UK has a world leading reputation for the delivery of the 3Rs. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) provides core funding for the National Centre for 3Rs (NC3Rs), which works nationally and internationally to drive the uptake of 3Rs technologies and ensure that advances in the 3Rs are reflected in policy, practice and regulations on animal research. Since it was established, the NC3Rs has invested £89.3 million in research grants and almost £34 million in contracts through its CRACK IT Challenges innovation scheme to UK and EU-based institutions.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology