There were
2,760,000
experiments on animals in British laboratories in 2022
1,250,000
Experiments were carried out for the creation and breeding of Genetically Altered animals
54,696
Experiments were assessed as severe
15,000
Experiments were carried out on specially protected species (cats, dogs, horses and monkeys)
These statistics provide some details of the number of scientific experiments performed on animals in Britain in 2022. These figures include both the number of experiments performed on animals, and the number of experiments that consisted of breeding Genetically Altered animals (who were not used in experiments).
The annual statistics publication relates to scientific experiments performed using living animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Regulated procedures are defined in the 1986 Act as any procedure applied to a protected animal for an experimental or other scientific purpose, or for an educational purpose, that may have the effect of causing an animal pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by the introduction of a needle in accordance with good veterinary practice. In addition, the breeding of an animal is a regulated procedure if the animal is bred from, or is the descendant of, an animal whose genes have mutated or have been modified and if this modification may have the potential to cause harm.
The Home Office collects information on regulated experiments taking place in Great Britain and publishes an annual report in July, which details the experiments that took place in the previous calendar year. The full reports are available to read on the gov.uk website.
The information collected and published by the Home Office includes: the number of experiments carried out on animals; the number of animals experimented on; the species and genetic status of the animals experimented on; the purpose of the experiments; and the severity of suffering the experiments inflicted on the animals.
”We owe it to the millions of animals who have suffered for negligible human benefit to end the century of unimaginable pain in UK laboratories. If Britain is to become a science superpower it must lead by example. It must accelerate the use of animal-free research and aim for target zero animal experiments, starting today.
Carla Owen, CEO
