Animal rights group critcises UK's poor testing reduction progress in 2009

British animal rights group BUAV has said it is "extremely disappointed" at the latest government statistics that show only a 1% drop in animal tests in 2009 following a "massive" 14% increase in 2008.

Among the statistics that BUAV calls attention to in the Home Office's statistics are a 143% increase in the use of animals to carry out toxicological tests for food additives and 483,046 animals used to carry out other toxicity tests including eye toxicity, skin irritation and acute lethal toxicity.

The number of tests on mice, birds and sheep rose in 2009 with those on cattle rising by 89%. At the same time, tests on guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, fish and amphibians declined significantly.

Responding to the statistics, BUAV Chief Executive Michelle Thew said: "The UK should be leading the way in reducing animal testing. Unfortunately, these latest statistics show there is a long way to go. Millions of animals continue to suffer and die in UK laboratories. We welcome the pledge from the new Coalition government to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research and we look forward to working with it to make meaningful and lasting change.”

• BUAV press release
• Home Office Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2009