We call for better monitoring and stronger enforcement of laws protecting animals used in scientific experiments
There was a shocking 860% increase in the number of animals involved in reported cases of non-compliance with UK animal testing laws in 2023, a new report shows.
We are again calling on the government to ensure proper enforcement of the law protecting animals used in experiments in the UK after publication of the annual report by the Home Office’s Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU), which regulates the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).
This latest report shows that there were 154,094 animals involved in cases of non-compliance reported for 2023, compared to 16,062 reported for 2022 as detailed in the Home Office’s report released earlier this year. Most of this increase can be traced to a single reported case of non-compliance which involved 102,775 animals (101,231 rats, 966 rabbits, 578 mice); here the number of animals far exceeded that amount which had been authorised. The action taken for this specific case was a simple letter of reprimand. There were seven other reported cases where the total number of animals exceeded the number authorised by the project licence, involving a total of 9,379 animals (8,001 mice and 1,378 rats).
Other specific cases included:
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Five cases of animals being kept alive after the usual point for humane euthanasia had passed, including two dogs, one hamster, five mice and two rats
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Eight instances of mice dying after their cages were flooded, killing a total of 62 pups and 11 adult mice
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18 fish poisoned to death by bleach in the water system
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11 primates, both adults and offspring, left outside overnight without food and water
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42 rats subjected to the unnecessary dosing of liquids directly into their stomach
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Three mice dying due to trapped tails
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80 fish dying or being euthanised due to poor water quality
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14 fish dying or suffering due to low water levels
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Three mice euthanised after being left within imaging equipment without food and water for 72 hours
The report also reveals that there were a total of 169 reported cases of non-compliance involving 48 establishments, down from 175 cases across 51 establishments in 2022, but an up from the 122 cases reported for 2021.
Across the 169 reported cases, the actions taken by the Home Office included 144 instances of advice being given by an authorised inspector, 58 letters of reprimand being issued, and six compliance notices. Out of the 169 cases, 108 were dealt with purely through inspectors providing advice.
There was a failure to provide adequate care, including provision of food and water, in 96 cases, up from 78 in 2022. The remaining 73 cases were due to licencing failures.
‘Adverse welfare outcomes’ – including more pain, distress, suffering or lasting harm than was authorised in the licence - were experienced by 553 animals. This represents a fall of 48% from 2022.
The ASRU is the regulator which oversees the use of animals in research and testing in the United Kingdom according to the UK law which licences the use of animals in scientific research and controls which animals can be used and for what purpose. It stipulates that animals are only used in research when there are no alternatives, only the minimum number of animals needed are used, and only the minimum possible suffering or lasting harm is caused.
In 2021, a new audit system was introduced, which relies heavily on self-reporting, replacing the old inspection programme. The report states that: ‘Although non-compliance may be detected during an audit, it is not primarily an enforcement activity but a monitoring and educational activity’. Without a system of proper inspections and enforcement it is likely that many incidents remain unreported and unidentified. In 2023, 69 establishment audits were conducted. However, only 1% of cases of non-compliance were identified by audits and a whopping 88% were self-reported (for the remaining cases, the license holders had taken the required steps to avoid non-compliance with the law).
As part of the Home Office’s regulatory reform, the audit programme is undergoing a review with further changes expected in 2025. We strongly urge the Home Office to instate a robust system of inspections to ensure cases of non-compliance are not missed.
In 2023, there were 460 new animal testing project licences issued – a fall of 30 from 2022. The number of active project licences has also fallen, from 2300 to 1870 at the end of 2023.
Dr Emma Grange, our Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs, said: “Yet again, the cases in the ASRU report illustrate a long-running systemic failure to protect animals and a lack of care for or interest in the wellbeing of animals used in laboratories. The very least these animals, which are ultimately condemned to suffer and die in experiments, deserve is consideration for their welfare.
“We are renewing our call on the regulator to properly enforce the law and to step up their monitoring and inspection efforts – allowing animals to die through pure negligence should result in more serious consequences than a letter of advice. Furthermore, the suffering detailed in this latest report underlines the need to enforce the principle of testing on animals only as a last resort, and for an accelerated transition to animal-free approaches in science.”
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