Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to recital 10 of the EU animal experiments directive 2010/63/EU, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the objective of achieving the final goal of full replacement of procedures on live animals for scientific and educational purposes is fully reflected in domestic law following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and the expiry of any transition period.

The use of animals in scientific research remains a vital tool in improving our understanding of how biological systems work both in health and disease. Such use is crucial for the development of new medicines and cutting edge medical technologies for both humans and animals, and for the protection of our environment.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, as amended in 2012, requires that testing only takes place where no scientifically satisfactory non-animal alternative method exists. Project licence proposals for research on animals, for which there is no non-animal alternative, must comply fully with the principles of the 3Rs: replacement, reduction and refinement.

Following EU exit, the requirement for the replacement of animal tests where practicable, and the principles of the 3Rs, will be fully retained in ASPA.