Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) the USA and (b) South Korea on alternative methods to replace animal experiments in medical research.

Many animal testing regulations are backed by international agreements and the Government works to ensure regulatory alignment where appropriate. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) represent the UK at the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, on accelerating acceptance of data from non-animal methods for drug safety decision making. Officials engage with international partners such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and attend international meetings to share best practice and consider approaches that reduce reliance on animal testing.