Transport of animals used in research
Transport of animals around the world, whatever the reason, is a huge concern for the RSPCA because of the stress it causes. In this case, the reason for the transport – the use of animals in experiments and the suffering this can cause - makes it an even more serious concern that must be tackled effectively.There has been an astonishing 37 per cent increase in animal experiments over the last decade.
All these experiments are said to be ‘absolutely necessary’ and done to the ‘highest possible standards’ but there are reports of animals suffering unnecessarily in experiments that are poorly designed and badly conducted and that in our view are therefore a complete waste of animals lives.
While the RSPCA does not believe in intimidation of transport companies, and we know a 'ban' on import for scientific procedures could just mean the research will still be done elsewhere, we welcome the debate about animal experimentation.
Directive 2010/63
In October 2010, a new EU Directive (2010/63) ‘on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes’ was finalised. The intention is to improve on the EU standards that are nearly 25 years old and out of date, and to harmonise controls across member states. The UK, however, already has a good law, the UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). Indeed, both the government and the research community have often commented on how well regulated animal research is in the UK.
The new Directive is an improvement on the original Directive (86/609). If implemented properly, it will result in better provision for laboratory animals in many European countries. However, it is actually less stringent than the current UK law in a number of areas. There is cause for serious concern over how the Directive will be transposed into UK law and the effect this will have on animal welfare, science and public confidence in UK controls.
UK standards under threat
The UK has until 1 January 2013 to implement the requirements of the revised EU legislation. We are deeply concerned that if the UK were to amend its own regulations in line with the minimum requirements of the Directive, this could mean weaker standards and less protection for UK lab animals - a significant backwards step.
However, member states have been given the freedom to retain aspects of their current national laws that go beyond the basic requirements of the new EU legislation. We want the UK Government to act upon this and ensure that our laws are not weakened. However, they have signalled that taking advantage of this provision is likely to be viewed as ‘gold plating’ the legislation, which will not be countenanced.
Alongside a reduction in the funding for the Home Office Inspectorate and a move to decentralisation of controls, transferring more responsibility from the Home Office to the local establishment, we believe this represents a serious attack on the standards of regulation of animal experiments in the UK. Indeed, we could see the longstanding, tried and tested system being systematically dismantled.
In June, the Home Office launched a 3-month public consultation relating to their plans for transposing the requirements of the new Directive.
Action
Please read our briefing and contact Lynne Featherstone MP (Parliamentary under-Secretary of State, Home Office) and urge her to make sure that UK legislation on animal experiments, and its enforcement, is not weakened when Directive 2010/63/EU is transposed.
It is crucially important for animal welfare, public confidence and ultimately UK science, to support and improve UK standards for regulation of animal experiments, not to reduce them to the bare minimum required by European law. Retaining current standards that recognise the importance of animal welfare, and take account of the significant public concern on this issue, should not be interpreted as ‘gold plating’ by the government.
RSPCA pledge to end severe suffering
Read our blog article published by Total Politics 'MPs and animals are similar when it comes to hiding pain...or are they?' (February 2012)
Household products
The RSPCA believes that the government ban on the testing of household products on animals will do very little to help laboratory animals. Out of 3.6 million animals used in experiments in the UK last year, just 24 were used for this purpose, and none were used the year before.
The RSPCA has always been opposed to animal testing for inessential substances such as cosmetics and toiletries, household products and garden chemicals. There is absolutely no justification for causing animal suffering in order to develop and test products used for such trivial purposes.
It is difficult to define 'household products'. Some substances are developed exclusively for use in such products, but most are likely to have other uses in industry or agriculture. This means that a ban on the testing of household products would be difficult to enforce and might affect very few products, because they could be tested as “industrial” or “agricultural” chemicals instead, effectively sidestepping the ban.
You can download the RSPCA's full press release here.
Further statistics from the RSPCA research animals indicators:
RSPCA research animals indicators: primatesRSPCA research animals indicators: non-animal methods