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Veröffentlicht: 27/07/10
BUAV expresses disappointment at a lack of progress by UK government in reducing animal suffering
UK Government releases latest statistics for experiments carried out on animals
The BUAV welcomes any decrease in the numbers of animals used in experiments in the UK. However, we are extremely disappointed by the lack of a meaningful drop in the number of animals used in research in the UK during 2009, following the massive 14% increase
during 2008.
There were over 3.6 million experiments started on animals in 2009, a fall of only 1%. That is equivalent to 9,863 experiments every day (14,286 per working day), a totally unacceptable figure.
The numbers were announced today by the Home Office in the annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2009.
Key points:
• Number of tests on mice up 9% (2, 628,556), birds up 3% (126, 781,) sheep up 6% (38, 003) and cattle up 89% (4,358)
• Tests on guinea-pigs down 35% (19, 159), pigs down 45% (3,757), rats down 6% (333, 865), fish down 34% (398, 101) and amphibians down 37% (20, 715)
• There was a 10% increase in breeding procedures using genetically modified animals (GM) and animals with a harmful defect (HM)
• Despite overwhelming public opposition to the use of primates (1), the UK conducted 4, 263 tests on primates, our closest genetic relatives. Although a slight overall decrease in the overall use of primates, a 68% increase in the numbers of new world primates (such as marmosets). Shockingly 30% of experiments on primates in the EU take place in the UK
• Contrary to the UK being hailed as a nation of animal lovers, 199 horses, 11,643 rabbits, 19,049 guinea pigs, 4,129 dogs and 172 cats were subjected to distressing experiments
• As many as 2.4 million experiments were carried out without any anaesthesia
• A 143% increase in the number of animals used in toxicological work to test food additives (901), an increase of 6% to test other food stuffs (8,030) and an increase of 11% to test agriculture products (18,966)
• Animals continue to be used in their thousands (438,046) for toxicity procedures such as skin irritation, eye toxicity and acute lethal toxicity
• Animals continue to be used in disturbing tests inflicting thermal injury and physical trauma
BUAV Chief Executive Michelle Thew states:
“The UK should be leading the way in reducing animal testing. Unfortunately, these latest statistics show there is a long way to go. Millions of animals continue to suffer and die in UK laboratories. We welcome the pledge from the new Coalition government to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research and we look forward to working with it to make meaningful and lasting change.”
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