115 Million Animals Used in Experiments Worldwide Every Year

Worldwide, over 115 million animals are used in experiments every year, including over 12 million in the European Union. The majority of animals used are rodents such as rats, mice and guinea pigs. A wide range of other species is also used including fish, birds, rabbits, dogs, cats, horses, pigs, sheep and non-human primates. Animals are used in experiments as ‘models’ to predict outcomes in humans by investigating how the body works, how it reacts to infection and disease, how it responds to drugs and surgical techniques, the toxicity of substances and the effects of weapons.

These experiments inflict a great deal of suffering on animals and public opposition to the use of animals in research has put pressure on policy makers and researchers to find alternatives to the use of animals in experiments. The guiding principle for minimising the suffering of animals used in research is the ‘3 R’s:

 
• Replacement of animals by non-sentient material (e.g. tissue cultures);

• Reduction in the number of animals used to obtain given information (e.g. by proper statistical design and analysis of experiments);

• Refinement of procedures actually used to minimise the distress imposed on the animals.

The ultimate goal must be the complete replacement of all animals in research and testing with alternative humane non-animal methods.

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