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Brexit Concerns For Lab Animals

7 years ago
1473 views

Posted
13th July, 2017 16h50

Author
National Anti-Vivisection Society


Concerns that hard fought for regulations on animal experiments could be lost after Brexit have been raised by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), following the release of Home Office figures showing that 3,867,528 animals were used for research last year, a decrease of 201,821. The NAVS is seeking a clear commitment from government that measures will not be dismantled.

There are particular concerns that Brexit could harm the development of alternative methods and lead to an increase in duplication of animal experiments if not addressed. Also that some areas covered by EU but not UK law could be dropped: controls on inspections, detailed recording on cat, dog and primate use, and a commitment to phase out the use of macaques from wild caught parents. Although the UK statistics suggest no current use of monkeys born to wild caught parents, it does import from countries such as Mauritius where monkey breeders restock with animals captured in the wild.

While the UK is unlikely to allow cosmetics testing on animals once again, the EU Cosmetics Directive also bans the import of products that have been tested on animals.  This key Directive prevents manufacturers in the USA, China and others from selling their products in Europe if they have been animal tested.

Jan Creamer, President of the National Anti-Vivisection Society said, “We need a clear commitment from government that all current regulations affecting animals in research will remain in place. Weakening these important measures, particularly implementation of non-animal methods, will be a bad deal for the animals, and for science.”
 
The latest Home Office figures on the use of animals in research reveal:

Secrecy is also an issue. The wider public and scientific scrutiny of Home Office decisions is prevented by Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (2012 Amended) (ASPA) which places a blanket ban on the release of details about animal experiments. Proposals to reform Section 24 (the ‘secrecy clause’) were announced over three years ago, and the public consulted on the issue, but action has yet to be taken, or the results of the consultation published. The delay, the NAVS understands, is due to an overhaul of the Freedom of Information Act which will have an effect on the functioning of Section 24. In response to a parliamentary question last week on the consultation, Minister of State Ben Wallace said “I intend to publish the response in due course.”

For further information, please see www.navs.org.uk


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