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BUDGET 2007 IGNORES NON-ANIMAL RESEARCH

©Vicky Alhadeff In response to the Budget for 2007, the Dr Hadwen Trust submitted a comment to politics.co.uk expressing their disappointment that the budget fails to address actually replacing, reducing and refining animal use in experiments.

Although the budget for science will increase, there appears to be no certainty or incentive for those involved in the development and validation of non-animal research methods.

Animals Count also submitted a comment on 22 March that the lack of funding is a missed opportunity, but this was not published.

Despite the fact that several large scale systematic scientific studies have demonstrated that results of animal experiments show low predictivity for human outcomes or have low clinical utility; that non-animal research methods such as computer modelling (comparing structures of known chemicals with unknown substances and looking at physical features) and in-vitro methods (using human or animal cells and tissues in test tubes) are more reliable, efficient and cost effective; the government does not seem to be in a hurry to push for replacement methods that could save the lives of millions of animals.

Almost 3 million animals are used annually in scientific research, toxicity testing and education and this figure is rising, mostly due to an increase in genetically modified animals.

Animals Count aims to:

Immediately ban the harmful use of all non-human primates in experiments.
Ban all harmful use of animals in scientific research, toxicity testing and education.
Establish an independent transparent scientific inquiry to thoroughly review the ethical, scientific and economic implications of scientific research, toxicity testing and education.
Facilitate increased funding for the development, validation and implementation of non-animal alternatives.