Asked by: Graeme Morrice (Labour - Livingston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Written Statement of 12 March 2015, HCWS385, on testing of household products on animals, what proportion of tests on animals for ingredients predominantly used in household products are not carried out for regulatory purposes; and what estimate she has made of the annual number of animals who will not now be used to test household product ingredients as a result of measures in that announcement.
Answered by Baroness Featherstone
The ban on testing animals on household products includes any chemical where more than half of it is expected to be used as an ingredient in household products. The only exceptions are tests legally required to protect humans, animals or the environment, or a small number of cases where a "strong justification" can be made for which we will apply a robust harm-benefit analysis. We will monitor the application of these exceptions closely.
The Annual Statistical Returns on the use of animals in Scientific Procedures do not specify the purpose of use of chemical ingredients. One of the reasons we want to have a notification system is to get better understanding of what, why and for what purposes ingredients primarily used in household products are tested. We estimate that on average, Contract Research Organisations in the UK test a small number of ingredients per year (around 8 or fewer) for which the testing is required by regulation and which are primarily for use in household products. From 1st October 2015 businesses will be required to report the testing within 30 days of having it carried out.
The UK has one of the most comprehensive animal welfare systems in the world to ensure animal testing is carried out humanely and only when necessary. This ban is a big step forwards that significantly raises the bar on the use of animals in testing and goes beyond that of other European countries. It demonstrates a continuing commitment to safeguard animal welfare and advance the use of the 3Rs principles (replacement, refinement and reduction) in research and development. The UK remains at the forefront of global work to develop alternatives to animal testing.