I have received hundreds of emails from my constituents about animal testing since the election. I passed on these concerns to ministers in the Labour government who today announced their plan to accelerate the development and adoption of safe and effective alternative methods.
This will speed up the phasing-out of animal testing in all but exceptional circumstances, delivering on the pledge made in Labour’s manifesto at the last election. Labour’s comprehensive roadmap backs researchers to seize on new and developing opportunities to replace certain animal tests, which are currently still used to determine the safety of products like life-saving vaccines and the impact chemicals like pesticides can have on living beings and the environment.
The new strategy recognises that phasing out the use of animals in science can only happen where reliable and effective alternative methods, with the same level of safety for human exposure, can replace them. By working in tandem with partners, backing researchers with new funding and streamlining regulation, the plan will enable teams to pivot safely to methods like:
- Organ-on-a-chip systems – tiny devices that mimic how human organs work using real human cells.
- Greater use of AI to analyse huge amounts of information about molecules to predict whether new medicines will be safe and work well on humans.
- 3D bioprinted tissues could create realistic human tissue samples, from skin to liver, for testing – providing lifelike environments for studying human biology and checking if substances are toxic.
The plan sets out specific commitments for the coming years, marking it out as one of the most detailed of its kind in the world and opening up new opportunities for the UK to lead on unearthing alternatives to phase out animal tests while growing our economy.
This includes an end to regulatory testing on animals to assess the potential for new treatments to cause skin and eye irritation and skin sensitisation by the end of 2026. By 2027 researchers are expected to end tests of the strength of botox on mice and to use only DNA-based lab methods for adventitious agent testing of human medicines – the process for detecting viruses or bacteria that might accidentally contaminate medicines.
By the end of 2030 it will also reduce pharmacokinetic studies – which track how a drug moves through the body over time – on dogs and non-human primates.
As one of the most detailed strategies in the world, the plan aims to establish the UK as a world leader in developing and adopting alternatives to animal testing while growing our economy.
I am delighted that the government has listened to my constituents and is taking strong action to phase out animal testing. I know this concerned so many of them and, with too little funding under the Tories, it meant we were missing out on opportunities to do innovative research as well. Under Labour, our aim is to establish the UK as a world leader in developing and adopting alternatives to animal testing.
Labour’s new strategy will make a huge difference in speeding up our move from animal testing to safe and effective alternatives. Not only will Labour’s plan protect animals, it will ensure we continue to innovate and develop life-saving products while growing the economy.
Developed by government with close consultation from life sciences experts, businesses and animal welfare organisations, the plan will deliver on the Labour Government’s manifesto commitment to improve animal welfare by partnering with scientists, industry, and civil society to phase out of animal testing.