Millions of animals are used and killed in scientific procedures around the world each year. These scientific tests (sometimes called experiments) on live animals mean they are forced to undergo procedures that are likely to cause them pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. Such tests are not the same as taking your companion animal to the vet and are not equivalent to any type of test or exam that humans themselves may undertake.
Many species of animal are regularly used in experiments, including wild animals. The types of animals typically used in tests associated with everyday consumer products include mice, rats, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, and in the case of medicines, mini-pigs, dogs and monkeys.
Regulatory tests are typically performed according to standardised, internationally agreed methods in order to provide information to assess products and ingredients. Animals are also used in experiments as part of the development of products, including drugs or treatments for human and animal diseases, that are not required by law.
Basic biological research involves the use of a huge number of animals in experiments around the world. These experiments are designed to answer ‘interesting’ scientific questions, on a voluntary basis, that animal researchers speculate might be useful in the future. This type of curiosity-driven research is often carried out by universities.
In addition, the creation and use of genetically modified animals has been an increasing trend over recent decades which we believe underpins the year-on-year increases seen in the number of animals used in science worldwide.
Animals are sentient beings, which means that, like people, they experience pain, suffering, well-being and happiness. They have their own individual needs and interests that deserve respect. Laboratories are no place for any animal.
Aside from obvious ethical objections, there are scientific questions to answer. Animals do not naturally get many of the diseases that humans do and even variations between humans makes it difficult to extrapolate. So how can we expect animals, from an entirely different species, to be a reliable basis for predicting the likelihood of specific effects in humans?
Animal tests notoriously lack reliability. Not only are time, money and animals’ lives being wasted (with a huge amount of suffering), but safe (and effective) products are being mistakenly discarded and, worse still, harmful products are getting through.
Testing on animals is not the only option; there are non-animal alternatives which are already the default, preferred option for certain applications. Non-animal tests can be cheaper, quicker and more effective. Replacing tests on animals does not mean putting human health or the environment at risk or halting scientific progress.
The sad reality, however, is that the existence of a non-animal replacement method isn’t enough to secure its use – there are also practical, social and political barriers to overcome.
One of the most important jobs the Cruelty Free International science team does is encourage regulators and policy makers to overcome barriers and transition to the use of non-animal science. Replacing tests using animals will improve the quality as well as the humanity of our science. It cannot come a day too soon.
News & Updates
Cruelty Free Cleaning bill introduced in New York
Cruelty Free Cleaning bill introduced in New York
Upper Tribunal says secrecy around UK animal experiments is unlawful
Upper Tribunal says secrecy around UK animal experiments is unlawful
Creating change for animals at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics Summer School
Creating change for animals at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics Summer School
Europe takes action to phase out animal testing of Botox products
Europe takes action to phase out animal testing of Botox products
Building on FDA Modernization to Replace Animal Tests
Building on FDA Modernization to Replace Animal Tests
We take our fight for freedom of information to the Royal Courts of Justice
