Today the UK Government has announced plans to phase out testing on animals and the use of them in research with a proposed ‘roadmap’ to use animal free alternatives instead.
The proposed plans will see the Government collaborate with scientists, relevant industries and the general public to work towards the phasing out of the use of animals in research. The proposed plans also aim to invest more funds into support of animal research staff and infrastructure in an effort to develop further animal-free alternatives. The plans include:
- New ‘human relevant’ approaches to research and testing
- Use of organ-on-a-chip systems that use human cells
- Development of 3D bio printed tissues for samples
- End the testing of botox strength on mice by 2027
- Reduce the amount of pharmacokinetic tests on dogs and non-human primates by 2030
This proposed plan has sparked conversation on how and why we use animals, 77% of adults in the UK believe that the Government should commit to the plans to phase out the use of animals in research which is very promising news. However, there are still people who believe that we need to use animals for good research to be conducted but this simply is not true. We have seen promising developments in better, animal-free research technologies and with the Governments proposed plans, we here at the Wild Side Society hope these developments only increase.
Overall, the Government’s strategies are a welcome and vital step forward when considering the animal welfare implications, however it is imperative that the Government delivers on these plans. There are better ways that do not involve the use of animals and we hope to continue to see positive changes.
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