Statement on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes

In August 2015, the Academy signed a pan-European statement supporting the European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, along with over 200 other national and international organisations.

The statement highlights that:

• Research using animals has facilitated major breakthroughs in medicine, and remains a necessary part of scientific efforts to understand biology and disease, and to develop safe and effective novel therapeutics.

• The European Directive has enhanced welfare standards across the EU and embeds the concepts of refinement, replacement and reduction (the '3Rs') within EU legislation. It also ensures that animals are only used in research if the potential medical, veterinary and scientific benefits are compelling and there is no viable alternative method.

• Whilst the scientific community is not able to fully replace the use of animals at the present time, it should continue to make progress in developing alternative methods to the use of animals in research.

The statement is available to download on the right-hand side of this page.

Further information on all of the Academy’s ‘Animals in research’ projects.

Further information on the Academy’s position on the use of animals in research.

Image courtesy of Understanding Animal Research.