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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'No target' in UK animal tests plan | 'No target' in UK animal tests plan |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The UK government has launched its delivery plan to replace, refine and reduce the use of animals in research - known as "the 3Rs". | The UK government has launched its delivery plan to replace, refine and reduce the use of animals in research - known as "the 3Rs". |
| It pledges to encourage scientists to use alternatives wherever possible. | It pledges to encourage scientists to use alternatives wherever possible. |
| But there is no commitment in the strategy released on Friday to reduce the total number of animal experiments, which has been on the rise. | But there is no commitment in the strategy released on Friday to reduce the total number of animal experiments, which has been on the rise. |
| This is despite a post-election pledge by the Coalition to cut the use of animals in scientific research. | This is despite a post-election pledge by the Coalition to cut the use of animals in scientific research. |
| Instead, the government will promote new, more ethical research techniques which can help boost UK science. | Instead, the government will promote new, more ethical research techniques which can help boost UK science. |
| "This isn't about a numerical target," said David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science. | "This isn't about a numerical target," said David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science. |
| "The commitment is to 'work to reduce use of animals'. Ultimately the final figure will depend on patterns of scientific advance. | "The commitment is to 'work to reduce use of animals'. Ultimately the final figure will depend on patterns of scientific advance. |
| "Britain is a world leader in science but also in concern for the welfare of animals. What we are doing is bringing these two great British traditions together. | "Britain is a world leader in science but also in concern for the welfare of animals. What we are doing is bringing these two great British traditions together. |
| "We are absolutely committed to the 3Rs." | "We are absolutely committed to the 3Rs." |
| 'Artificial' focus | 'Artificial' focus |
| Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker, who is leading the Home Office work, said it would be "artificial" to focus on the absolute numbers of animal experiments. | Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker, who is leading the Home Office work, said it would be "artificial" to focus on the absolute numbers of animal experiments. |
| "Had work not been done via the 3Rs we'd already have a higher number," he said. | "Had work not been done via the 3Rs we'd already have a higher number," he said. |
| "If we are attracting scientists from overseas because of our good scientific base, that will impact the total figure. | "If we are attracting scientists from overseas because of our good scientific base, that will impact the total figure. |
| "Minimising the use of animals can also be an opportunity for the science sector. | "Minimising the use of animals can also be an opportunity for the science sector. |
| "I challenge you to find a document like this anywhere else in the world." | "I challenge you to find a document like this anywhere else in the world." |
| However, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (Buav), which campaigns to end animal testing, called the strategy a "missed opportunity". | However, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (Buav), which campaigns to end animal testing, called the strategy a "missed opportunity". |
| Buav's chief executive, Michelle Thew, said: "This is a whitewash and shows that the Government has in reality given up on what it promised to do and that is to reduce the number of animal experiments. | Buav's chief executive, Michelle Thew, said: "This is a whitewash and shows that the Government has in reality given up on what it promised to do and that is to reduce the number of animal experiments. |
| "This broken promise is a missed opportunity for the Government to make meaningful and lasting change for the millions of animals that are suffering in UK laboratories." | "This broken promise is a missed opportunity for the Government to make meaningful and lasting change for the millions of animals that are suffering in UK laboratories." |
| Jan Creamer, chief executive of the National Anti-Vivisection Society (Navs) commented: "Incredibly, the Government report admits the failings of animal research, yet claims to be powerless to move towards what it calls the 'better, faster and cheaper non-animal approaches'." | Jan Creamer, chief executive of the National Anti-Vivisection Society (Navs) commented: "Incredibly, the Government report admits the failings of animal research, yet claims to be powerless to move towards what it calls the 'better, faster and cheaper non-animal approaches'." |
| Continued rise | Continued rise |
| But the Humane Society International (HSI), an animal protection organisation, gave the government's plan a cautious welcome. | |
| Emily McIvor, its animal research policy director, said: "The Plan itself recognises the desperate impasse in drug development, where 92% of new medicines tested on animals fail in human trials. | Emily McIvor, its animal research policy director, said: "The Plan itself recognises the desperate impasse in drug development, where 92% of new medicines tested on animals fail in human trials. |
| "It also highlights barriers posed by underlying conservatism among journal editors and peer review panels that needs to be overcome if progress is to be made." | "It also highlights barriers posed by underlying conservatism among journal editors and peer review panels that needs to be overcome if progress is to be made." |
| Wendy Jarrett, chief executive of Understanding Animal Research, which works to promote understanding about advances stemming from animal testing, said: "We welcome this very clear cross-government statement of the continuing need for well-regulated animal research in the UK." | Wendy Jarrett, chief executive of Understanding Animal Research, which works to promote understanding about advances stemming from animal testing, said: "We welcome this very clear cross-government statement of the continuing need for well-regulated animal research in the UK." |
| The BioIndustry Association (BIA) responded positively to the plan, but its chief executive Steve Bates, said: "Government must ensure that any actions it takes do not negatively impact the ability of British companies to continue to research and develop new products and technologies." | The BioIndustry Association (BIA) responded positively to the plan, but its chief executive Steve Bates, said: "Government must ensure that any actions it takes do not negatively impact the ability of British companies to continue to research and develop new products and technologies." |
| Despite the Coalition's 2010 pledge in its Our Programme for Government document, the number of animal experiments has continued to rise steadily. | |
| Latest figures show they rose by 8% in 2012, fuelled by a growth in the use of genetically modified (GM) animals. | Latest figures show they rose by 8% in 2012, fuelled by a growth in the use of genetically modified (GM) animals. |
| About 4.11 million scientific experiments on animals took place in 2012, an increase of 317,200 on the previous year, according to a Home Office report. | About 4.11 million scientific experiments on animals took place in 2012, an increase of 317,200 on the previous year, according to a Home Office report. |
| Mice were the most frequent animals used, followed by rats, fish and primates such as Old World Monkeys, a group which includes macaques and baboons. | Mice were the most frequent animals used, followed by rats, fish and primates such as Old World Monkeys, a group which includes macaques and baboons. |