The NAVS Responds To Statement About Transportation Of Laboratory Animals

The National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) has followed with interest comments in the media today, from Lord Drayson, a former Labour Science Minister, and wishes to address many of the inaccuracies published. Lord Drayson has adopted classic pro-laboratory animal trade propaganda, raising all kinds of unsubstantiated claims about the use of animals in medical research, without the evidence to support his claim that research will be damaged. Jan Creamer, Chief Executive of the NAVS said: "The fact is that advanced techniques are replacing animal use all the time, therefore there is no need to import animals for research. British science and technology is a world leader, and cutting edge research does not need to use animals. Numerous scientific papers highlight the differences between animals and humans which make using animals unreliable and sometimes ultimately harmful to humans. "The majority of medical research is without animals. For example, one of the major cancer charities admitted that just 2% of their research spend was on animal research projects, and a quarter of this cost was just on animal care, not the actual research. "The public are now acutely aware of the cruelty and suffering inflicted on animals in research laboratories, and it is their disquiet and increasing unease that is ending this trade. Animal experiments are conducted in secrecy, and licences are granted in secret. That is a key reason why people don't trust the government or industry claims, and Lord Drayson's observations are both unfounded, and inaccurate."

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