Animals in science and education

Legislation

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA)

Who is covered under ASPA?

Vertebrate animals and cephalopods that undergo experiments (regulated procedures) for scientific or educational purposes which may cause the animals pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm

In what case can animals undergo regulated procedures?

If there is ‘no validated alternative and when potential benefits outweigh the harms’

Conditions required for performing regulated procedures on animals

1. Three licenses: personal - for researcher, project - specifies the programme of work, place - specifies where procedures will be carried out

2. Qualified personnel responsible for animal care and welfare

3. Anaesthetics and pain killers used if the procedure causes pain

4. Death as an end point should be avoided and replaced with an early and humane end point

5. breeders need an establishment license

6. performing procedures for exhibition is illegal

7. illegal to test cosmetics or household products on animals in the UK

3Rs

Replacement - what alternatives are there?

Reduction - can the number of animals be reduced?

Refinement - can the correct environment be provided?

How is ASPA enforced?

Government-appointed inspectors check up on research establishments. They can revoke a license or give improvements on the welfare of the animals

Offences for not following ASPA

Fine

Imprisonment

who issues the licenses for ASPA?

the home office

which animals have special protection under ASPA?

horses, non-human primates, dogs and cats

UK animal testing phase out strategy (November 2025)

A roadmap to phase out animal testing faster and replace it with validated alternative scientific methods

what has the new 2025 animal test phase out plan said will end by the end of 2026?

regulatory tests for skin/eye irritation and skin sensitisation

what has the new 2025 animal test phase out plan said will end by 2027?

botox strength tests on mice

what has the new 2025 animal test phase out plan said will end by 2030?

reduced pharmacokinetic studies on dogs and non-human primates

what alternative methods will be used rather than animal testing according to the new animal test phase out plan (2025)?

organ-on-a-chip systems - tiny devices that mimic how human organs work using real human cells

greater use of AI to analyse large amounts of information about molecules to predict if medicines will be safe and work well on humans

3D bioprinted tissues that could create realistic human tissue samples for testing

what organisation has historically led the UK alternatives to animal testing?

National Centre for the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)

What is a limitation of the new 2025 animal testing phase out plan?

not all animal testing has alternatives so remains necessary

what animals are mostly animal tested on?

mice, rats and rodents (some fish and birds)

Reasons for research on animals

• learn more about how the body works e.g. research into pain perception

• learn how disease affects the body e.g. cancer research

• develop and test new forms of treatment before testing on humans e.g. drug trials

• research genetic manipulation e.g. likelihood of developing diseases

when are animals used for education?

dissections, behaviour studies, for animal management and vet students, zoos

possible welfare issues when using animals in education

overuse of animals e.g. a big group handling a small number of animals

stress of being in a busy environment

what happens to animals in schools or colleges during holidays