Animal Experiments

(asked on 3rd March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to meet the requirements of article 20B(1) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to support the development and validation of alternative strategies over the last 12 months; and what steps her Department plans to take to meet those requirements over the next 12 months.


Answered by
Victoria Atkins Portrait
Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This question was answered on 12th March 2021

This Government continues to deliver article 20B of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to support the development and validation of scientific methods and testing strategies which do not use protected animals, or which (compared to existing scientific methods and testing strategies) use fewer protected animals or reduce the pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm caused to protected animals.

Standard Condition 1 of all Establishment licences issued under ASPA requires each establishment to have systems in place to ensure activities at the establishment follow the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). On inspection, the Home Office requires documented evidence that establishment licence holders are fulfilling this standard condition. The Home Office requires documented evidence that licences are reviewed during their lifetime for application of the 3Rs.

Project licence applicants are expected to make best endeavours in using search strategies for non-animal alternatives. This should include the available searchable databases and resources such as those available through the NC3Rs website.

To ensure licence applicants effectively apply the 3Rs it is mandatory that all licence holders have undertaken accredited modular training that includes the 3Rs approach.

This Government continues to champion the work of the NC3Rs in supporting the research community to use science and technology to replace studies that require animals and develop new approaches. Where animals are still required, we support the NC3Rs approach of providing the latest information and guidance to improve laboratory animal welfare.

Reticulating Splines