THE USE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH AND TESTING

Around the world it is estimated CHINA JAPAN Attitudes towards animals, and the
+100 million animals
are used in experiments every year
c.16m c.11m legislation in place regarding their
use and welfare, can differ widely
between countries

Countries vary in whether, and how,

EUROPEAN they count and report animal
UNION experiments. Some significant users
(e.g Russia, India, Brazil) provide little
9.4m or no information

CANADA AUSTRALIA
4.3m c.6.7m
NEW
AMERICA ZEALAND
c.20m 0.24m

3.3 million
animals used in the UK
21(FTEs)Home Office Inspectors
evaluating licence applications and inspecting UK labs
RAT
cattle CAT FERRET
CHICKEN frog beagle
RABBIT guineapig MACAQUE
MARMOSET MOUSE PIG 3are needed
Licences
ZEBRAFISH sheep from the UK Home Office

creation and breeding of ESTABLISHMENT PERSONAL PROJECT

genetically altered animals experiments
LICENCES LICENCES LICENCES
49% 51%
Procedures Procedures
156 16,278 3,043

The majority of GA animals Breeding Housing, Experimental

and handling, procedures and
are mice and zebrafish transport humane killing their effects
Percentage of animal research and testing undertaken in the UK
UNIVERSITIES AND SOURCES OF POTENTIAL SUFFERING
MEDICAL SCHOOLS INDUSTRY OTHER

53% 22% 25% *MILD 52% *MODERATE 28% *SEVERE 4%

Each project proposal must undergo a harm-benefit analysis

3Rs and ethics
Potential
benefits to
REPLACEMENT REDUCTION REFINEMENT Expected people or other
using humane methods minismising the numbers improving experiments, harm to lab animals
which avoid or replace of animals used housing and care to animals
the use of animals reduce suffering
throughout animals’ lives

The RSPCA is opposed to experiments which cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. Replacement with humane alternatives *Experimental procedures only
is our principal goal, and we also work to minimise animal numbers and suffering and improve welfare. See: www.rspca.org.uk/laboratoryanimals Source for UK data: Home Office 2020