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Court review for animal testing Court review for animal testing
(10 minutes later)
The UK government is being taken to court over its duty to cut suffering to lab animals, as figures show another rise in animal tests.The UK government is being taken to court over its duty to cut suffering to lab animals, as figures show another rise in animal tests.
News of the judicial review coincided with the release of official Home Office figures showing a moderate rise in animal experiments last year.News of the judicial review coincided with the release of official Home Office figures showing a moderate rise in animal experiments last year.
A total of three million procedures were carried out on animals in 2006, a rise of 4% on the previous year.A total of three million procedures were carried out on animals in 2006, a rise of 4% on the previous year.
Scientists said tests were necessary to help cure life-threatening diseases.Scientists said tests were necessary to help cure life-threatening diseases.
In total, 2.95 million animals were used in procedures last year in England, Scotland and Wales.In total, 2.95 million animals were used in procedures last year in England, Scotland and Wales.
The majority of procedures - 83% - involved mice, rats and other rodents. The remainder involved primarily fish (9%), birds (4%) and reptiles/amphibians (1%).The majority of procedures - 83% - involved mice, rats and other rodents. The remainder involved primarily fish (9%), birds (4%) and reptiles/amphibians (1%).
Dogs, cats, horses and non-human primates receive special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. These were used in less than half of 1% of the procedures.Dogs, cats, horses and non-human primates receive special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. These were used in less than half of 1% of the procedures.
Court date
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) announced it was taking the Government to the High Court in London on Tuesday over the fate of laboratory animals.The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) announced it was taking the Government to the High Court in London on Tuesday over the fate of laboratory animals.
The case will seek a declaration that the government has failed to ensure animal suffering in Home Office licensed laboratories is kept to a minimum.The case will seek a declaration that the government has failed to ensure animal suffering in Home Office licensed laboratories is kept to a minimum.
The judge will be asked to order the Home Office to re-examine its licensing regulations.The judge will be asked to order the Home Office to re-examine its licensing regulations.
But the Home Office strongly disputed the claims by the BUAV.But the Home Office strongly disputed the claims by the BUAV.
"The UK runs the strictest animal testing regime in the world. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, animal procedures are only allowed where the research is essential, there is no other way of obtaining the information, and suffering will be kept to an absolute minimum," a spokesperson said."The UK runs the strictest animal testing regime in the world. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, animal procedures are only allowed where the research is essential, there is no other way of obtaining the information, and suffering will be kept to an absolute minimum," a spokesperson said.
"The Home Office carries out its regulatory responsibilities under the Act with great care and strongly contests the claims made by the BUAV.""The Home Office carries out its regulatory responsibilities under the Act with great care and strongly contests the claims made by the BUAV."
Last year's figures showed a smaller rise in the number of tests. The number of procedures undertaken on laboratory animals in 2005 was just under 2.9 million, a rise of about 1.4% on the previous year. The three "R's"
The so-called 3 "R's" are supposed to underpin laboratory rules and culture. They emphasise the need to reduce suffering and find replacement methods that do not involve animals. According to BUAV, the 4% rise in total procedures represents the greatest increase in five years, and the highest number since 1991.
The number of procedures undertaken on laboratory animals in 2005 was just under 2.9 million, a rise of about 1.4% on the previous year.
"The government's handling of the entire animal experiment licensing system is deeply flawed," said Michelle Thew, chief executive of Buav.
"The Home Office is this week charged with ignoring its duty to ensure laboratory animal suffering is kept to a minimum and pulling the wool over the public's eyes about the numbers of experiments that cause substantial animal suffering in laboratories up and down the UK."
The so-called three "R's" are supposed to underpin laboratory rules and culture. They emphasise the need to reduce suffering and find replacement methods that do not involve animals.
The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has launched a national survey of scientists who use animals in their research.The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has launched a national survey of scientists who use animals in their research.
The aim of the survey is to determine what scientists actually know about the 3Rs and how they use them in their everyday work. The aim of the survey is to determine what scientists actually know about the three "R's" and how they use them in their everyday work.