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Animal use for science in Europe
Mardas Daneshian1, Francois Busquet1, Thomas Hartung1,2,3
1Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing - Europe, University of Konstanz, Germany.
ALTEX
|November 5, 2015
Summary
Animal use in science remained stable from 1995-2011, but transgenic animal use surged. Future research must prioritize alternatives, especially for transgenic models in biomedical studies.
Area of Science:
- Animal research ethics
- Toxicology and safety assessment
- Biomedical research trends
Background:
- Investigating long-term trends in animal experimentation within the European Union and Switzerland.
- Analyzing statistical data from 1995 to 2011 to identify shifts in animal usage patterns.
- Examining the influence of regulatory bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and industry initiatives on animal use statistics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze long-term trends in the number of animals used for scientific purposes in EU countries and Switzerland.
- To identify specific research areas with significant changes in animal consumption.
- To highlight the increasing use of transgenic animals and the need for alternatives.
Main Methods:
- Statistical analysis of animal use data from 1995 to 2011.
- Comparative analysis across 15 EU member states and Switzerland.
- Examination of sub-categories of animal use, including toxicology and basic research.
Main Results:
- Overall animal use remained constant at approximately 11 million per year between 1995 and 2011.
- Significant increases in animal use were observed in Germany and the UK, while decreases occurred in several other European nations.
- Safety assessment (toxicology) accounted for a low and stable 8% of animal use, potentially due to alternative method development.
- Basic biological science and R&D for medicine, veterinary, and dentistry constituted 65% of animal use.
- A drastic increase in the consumption of transgenic animals was noted, reaching 30% of total use in Germany by 2011.
Conclusions:
- While overall animal use numbers have stabilized, the significant rise in transgenic animal use necessitates a greater focus on developing and implementing alternatives in biomedical research.
- Continued efforts by NGOs, the European Parliament, and industry collaborations have likely contributed to stable numbers in toxicology.
- Initiatives like the "MEP - 3Rs scientists pairing scheme" are crucial for fostering information exchange and advancing the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) in animal research.
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