The government’s bold new strategy working towards ending the suffering of animals in laboratories and promote human-relevant science[1] has
been applauded by animal protection organisation, Cruelty Free International.
Cruelty Free International believes that the strategy, ‘Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods’,
demonstrates the ambition, governance, leadership and focus which is required for the government to deliver on its 2024 manifesto commitment to phase-out the use of animals in science.
The inclusion of clear targets and milestones is the cornerstone of the strategy and will drive forward these plans. The promise of increased funding for the development of non-animal methods is also key in bringing about the fundamental and permanent changes
necessary to end animal testing.
The strategy promises to:
Form a cross-governmental Ministerial group on alternative methods, chaired by the Science Minister
Publish qualitative and quantitative key performance indicators to monitor progress in delivering the strategy’s objectives, with a publicly available progress dashboard, by 2026
Create a preclinical translational models hub, supported by £30 million of government funding, by the end of 2026
Seize opportunities to replace regulatory animal tests used to evaluate impacts on human health and the environment, covering medicines, chemicals, consumer products, food, and pesticides
Support the validation of new methods, creating a UK centre for the validation of alternative methods (UKCVAM)
Supply guidance permitting medicines trials based on non-animal data where relevant preclinical animal models don’t exist, by the end of 2026
Reduce pharmacokinetic studies on dogs and non-human primates, by at least 35% by 2030
Collect data on the use of second species testing for medicines
Work collaboratively with partners and researchers, and work to streamline regulations
Provide training in non-animal methods for early career researchers, publish research priorities and promote funding for research on non-animal approaches
Support the upskilling of regulatory assessors and enable engagement between regulators and companies to support the application of non-animal approaches
Position the UK as a world leader in regulatory testing underpinned by modern and humane non-animal methods
Set time-bound commitments to end specific regulatory toxicity tests on animals, including to:
Fully replace the rabbit pyrogen test by the end of 2025
End skin and eye irritation and corrosion testing on animals by the end of 2026
Fully replace skin sensitisation testing on animals by the end of 2026
End Botox potency tests on mice by 2027
End selected batch tests for contamination of human medicines by 2027
These five tests feature in Cruelty Free International’s Replace Animal Tests (RAT) list[2], a priority list of animal tests where established
non-animal approaches already exist. Cruelty Free International has long called for immediate work to end these particular tests on animals as a matter of urgency.
Encouragingly, the government’s press release ahead of the publication of the strategy[3] indicated that there would be a total of £75 million
funding dedicated to bringing forward new testing methods as well as the creation of a new collaboration hub. Only the spending for the latter, at £30 million, was explicitly stated in the strategy itself. Cruelty Free International will be seeking clarity
from the government to confirm the scope and scale of new funding committed as part of this strategy.
Cruelty Free International applauds the strategy, and the government’s willingness to pursue its manifesto commitment. The strategy makes many welcome promises, many of which we have long called for, and we will continue to scrutinise government actions to
ensure accountability and full delivery of the plans. The organisation reaffirms its availability to partner with the government on this strategy and share the responsibility for its implementation.
Home Office statistics[4] show that there were 2.64 million uses of animals in laboratories in Great Britain in 2024, a meagre fall of just
2% from 2023. Of these uses, 19% (488,255 animals) were considered by researchers to have caused moderate or severe pain and suffering to the animals involved, including long-term disease and even death. Animals used in testing include dogs, cats, monkeys,
rabbits and horses.
Regulatory toxicity testing, designed to assess the safety or effectiveness of chemicals, medicines and other consumer products, accounted for 10% of all uses of animals (252,126). The creation and breeding of genetically altered animals – those whose genes
have been modified but have not then been used in further tests – accounted for 46% of all uses (1,207,588). Basic, curiosity-driven research, that attempts to shed light on biological processes, accounted for 28% of the total (741,555); translational research,
research that attempts to develop treatments or cures for diseases, 13% (339,673); and routine production, using animals to produce things like antibodies that go on to be used in many areas of scientific research and testing, 2% (63,164).
The British public have long supported an end to animal testing. Cruelty Free International’s 2021 YouGov survey[5] showed that 65% of participants wanted to see a plan to phase out animal experiments with a target date set for ending tests in the UK.
Cruelty Free International’s Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs, Dr Emma Grange, said: “We warmly welcome this strategy as a long overdue but very exciting move towards ending the cruelty of animal testing in the UK, which we also expect to have a positive
impact globally. It is a strong step forward and shows that the government is listening to scientists and the public, to uphold its own promise to work towards phasing out animal experiments.
“The commitments to funding, regulatory reform, and measurable targets are exactly the kind of leadership we need and marks a serious move towards alleviating the suffering caused by the millions of animal tests which happen every year in this country.
“We continue to call for a clear route for collaboration and partnership with key players, such as animal protection organisations, and actionable proposals for regulatory reform to make these proposals concrete. Success also depends on strong delivery and
leadership from government, but this is a positive first step. We look forward to working with Ministers, regulators, researchers and industry to ensure this strategy delivers the transformation it promises, and will continue our work to drive progress across
successive governments to come.”
