UK government taken to court over animal testing

In 2006 there was a four percent increase in the number of tests conducted on animals, bringing the number up to their highest value since 1991. The biggest increase in the number of tests in the last five years has been met with distaste by a large number of organisations.

Buav (the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) has announced that it is taking the government to the High Court in London over the treatment of animals in laboratories across the country.

"The Home Office is this week charged with ignoring its duty to ensure laboratory animal suffering is kept to a minimum and pulling the wool over the public's eyes about the numbers of experiments that cause substantial animal suffering in laboratories up and down the UK," said Michelle Thew, chief executive of Buav.

In response the Home Office minister Meg Hiller responed saying, “Where animal research is the only option, we will continue to ensure that the balance between animal welfare and scientific advancement is maintained."

Breakdown

A total of three million procedures were carried out last year, with an 8% rise in the number of these animals that were genetically modified. Scientists have defended themselves stating they are necessary experiments to help cure life-threatening diseases.

Of the 2.95 million animals used in experimentation last year in England, Scotland and Wales, 69% were mice, 13% were rats as well as 9% being fish, 4% birds and 1% being reptiles/amphibians. Less than half a percent of all animals tested were dogs, cats, horses and non human primates which enjoy special protection under the law.

Head of the Home Office's scientific procedure division, John Richmond, said that "This is the fifth increase in a row and we think it now signals the previous downward trend (in the number of overall procedures) has been reserved by the increase of use of genetically altered animals."

Scientists claim that with each experiment undertaken the day comes closer when animals will not have to be used as they will know enough to work safely with patients. But Buav and others claim that the government has failed to uphold the 1986 Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act in the expected way.

Michael Balls, an advisor to the government during the drafting go the act stated, “People accepted it on the basis of sincere promises that there would be fundamental changes, and I don't think those have happened."

The hearing, which started today in the high court is strongly disputed by the Home Office who claim that the United Kingdom have the strictest animal testing procedures in the world.

A bright side

Whether you are for or against animal testing for medical purposes some good at least has come about. Last year no animals were used to test cosmetics or household products, nor were any used in testing the development of weapons, alcoholic or tobacco based products.

As scientists continue to delve into the causes and potential cures of the myriad of diseases that plague humanity it is likely that this trend is going to continue. The latest concern is not only about animal welfare but also about the return on experimentation. While it is possible to minimise the suffering that procedures can entail it is often impossible to eradicate suffering altogether, so for some it becomes a question of how much difference is their suffering causing? And how much difference is needed for it to be ok? This is one question that the High Court will looking into over the coming weeks.