BREAKING NEWS: Germany revealed as second biggest conductor of animaltests in Europe
Germany revealed as second biggest conductor of animal tests in Europe
The statistics come hot on the heels of the closure of the LPT animal testing facility at Mienenbüttel
Cruelty Free Europe, a network campaigning to bring animal experiments to an end across the EU, has criticised the German authorities for failing to reduce the number of animal experiments carried out in the country as new EU statistics reveal a total of 2,068,813 experiments were conducted there in 2017. This makes Germany the second highest reported user of animal experiments in Europe, behind only the UK (2,574,875 tests).
These figures come in the wake of the closure of LPT Mienenbüttel ( www.crueltyfreeinternational.o… ), the German animal testing facility at the centre of the Cruelty Free International and SOKO Tierschutz investigation. The findings, which depicted shocking levels of animal suffering and several breaches of the law, sparked protests and international outrage and the story made national headlines.
The reaction to the LPT investigation highlights the growing opposition to animal experiments in Germany and sends a clear message that it is time for the German authorities to take action. As the new EU report illustrates, there is a long way to go.
According to the European Commission report, almost 30 million animal experiments took place in the European Union between 2015 and 2017, most of which were for basic research (45%) and translational and applied research purposes (23%), testing which is not required by law and which could be stopped tomorrow.
The number of rabbits and primates used for the first time in experiments appears to be on the rise, with the number of rabbits increasing from 346,000 in 2015 to 352,000 in 2017 (2% increase) and the number of primates increasing from 7,136 to 8,235 (15% increase).
Kerry Postlewhite, Director of Public Affairs for Cruelty Free International, says: “Our joint investigation into LPT Mienenbüttel lifted the lid on the secrecy that continues to surround the use of animals in cruel and unreliable tests in Germany and throughout Europe. But LPT is not an isolated case. The shocking number of tests taking place in Germany and across the EU highlights the need for an urgent review of animal testing. It’s clear that this is what citizens want to see happen. ”
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For more information on Cruelty Free Europe contact: info@crueltyfreeeurope.org / +44 (0) 207 619 6978 / +44 (0) 759 005 5206
NOTES
Other findings from the EU report:
• Between 2015 and 2017, the total number of experiments on animals in European laboratories decreased by 2% from 9.78 million in 2015 to 9.58 million in 2017. However, there was an increase to 10.03 million in 2016.
• The number of rabbits and primates used for the first time in experiments appears to be on the rise, with the number of rabbits increasing from 346,000 in 2015 to 352,000 in 2017 (2% increase) and the number of primates increasing from 7,136 to 8,235 over the same period (15% increase).
• 12.60 million animals were bred for testing in 2017 – additional to the number of animals used in experiments for that year.
• Few applications for animal testing are refused in the EU with 16 countries failing to refuse any project applications from 2015 to 2017, including the UK.
ABOUT CRUELTY FREE EUROPE
Cruelty Free Europe is a dynamic new network of animal protection groups with a presence at the heart of EU decision-making, working to bring animal testing to an end across Europe and beyond. The organisation works with EU bodies and the public to ensure that animals in laboratories are taken seriously on the European political agenda and to campaign for humane modern science and progressive legislation. crueltyfreeeurope.org/
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Info – Cruelty Free Europe (February 06, 2020 at 07:11 PM)
info@crueltyfreeeurope.org
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Published by „the fellbeißer“© (February 07, 2020)
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