In brief
The UK government has announced its strategy for phasing out animal testing, focusing on replacing traditional methods with alternatives by 2025. The plan aims to cut the use of dogs and non-human primates by 35% by 2030 while speeding up the implementation of 'organ-on-a-chip' technology and AI in scientific research. Though met with support by animal welfare advocacy groups, some scientists express concerns about the feasibility and implications of this shift.
The government has detailed for the first time how it aims to fulfil its manifesto pledge to work toward phasing out animal testing.
The new plans include replacing animal testing for some major safety tests by the end of this year and cutting the use of dogs and non-human primates in tests for human medicines by at least 35% by 2030.
The Labour Party said in its manifesto that it would partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing.
Science Minister Lord Vallance told BBC News that he could imagine a day where the use of animals in science was almost completely phased out but acknowledged that it would take time.
Animal experiments in the UK peaked at 4.14 million in 2015 driven mainly by a big increase then in genetic modification experiments – mostly on mice and fish.
By 2020, the number had fallen sharply to 2.88 million as alternative methods were developed. But since then that decline has plateaued.
Lord Vallance stated the goal to re-ignite the downward trend by replacing animal testing with experiments on animal tissues grown from stem cells, AI, and computer simulations. He believes that while eliminating animal use entirely may not be feasible in the near future, significant progress can be made.
Dashed expectations exist among some scientists, such as Prof Frances Balkwill from Queen Mary University of London, who stress the complexity of biological organisms, asserting that non-animal methods cannot replicate the intricate environments of living systems.
Despite varied opinions, the government’s plan emphasizes a shift towards methods like organ-on-a-chip technologies and artificial intelligence to replace animal testing. It also includes the establishment of a Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods to promote the use of non-animal testing techniques.
The RSPCA has welcomed the plan but urges concrete implementation. Concerns also linger about potentially rushing alternatives at the expense of scientific integrity, with some researchers highlighting the necessity of animal studies in complex biological research.
