Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 UK backs greater animal testing openness 09:53 21 January 03 NewScientist.com news service Limited details of the millions of animal experiments conducted in the UK each year are to be published in future, the government announced on Tuesday. The government was responding to the findings of a House of Lords select committee report concerning the use of animals in medical and scientific research. " The government agrees with the report's finding that animal experiments are necessary to develop human and veterinary medicine and to protect humans and the environment, " said Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth. The report also recommended publishing full details of any application for a license to conduct animal experiments in the UK. But the government rejected this, saying it would not repeal a law that makes it illegal to publish such details. Instead, it suggests publishing a brief non-technical summary of experiments written by the researchers involved. The format that these summaries will take has yet to be decided. They will not include the names of researchers or research facilities but will have to provide justification for the research. Safeguard scientists The decision to limit the amount of information disclosed has received an angry response from some animal rights activists. But many scientific and medical researchers backed to the government's decision. Nancy Rothwell, a researcher at the University of Manchester, said: " This looks like a very sensible response from the government, which should provide greater openness about animal research, whilst continuing to safeguard scientists from animal rights extremists. " Simon Festing, of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said patients suffering from diseases like cancer and cystic fibrosis would be grateful for the government's backing for continued research involving animals: " The absurd anti-vivisection agenda of abolishing life-saving medical research involving animals is being systematically shredded before our eyes. " Another recommendation of the Lords' report was the establishment of a UK research centre to further efforts to replace, reduce and refine animal experiments. The government said this was " worth exploring further " . But Michelle Thew, chief executive of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, said: " The government's lack of funding for non-animal research development is recognised in the report, and yet here the government still refuses to promote this as a top-priority area. " Will Knight Related Stories Infant rats head grafted onto adult's thigh 3 December 2002 Lords report recommends animal testing 'pain scores' 24 July 2002 Persuasion replaces coercion in animal experiments 5 July 2002 For more related stories search the print edition Archive Weblinks Government response to Lords report (pdf) House of Lords Select Committee Report on Animals in Scientific Procedures (pdf) British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection Association of Medical Research Charities Lab animals should get " pain scores " 16:10 24 July 02 NewScientist.com news service Animals should be scored for pain and suffering during scientific experiments, says an influential UK parliamentary committee. " Information on the levels of suffering and purpose of each project would enable the public to make informed judgements about the justification of animal research, " says Lord Smith of Clifton, chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures. " Moreover, the information would highlight where there was greatest suffering, and hence where the need to develop replacements, reductions and refinements was greatest, " he says. The committee's report, published on Wednesday, endorses the use of animals in experiments as necessary for testing new medical treatments. But it recommends changes in the law to force scientists to disclose far more information about their experiments. Secret filming At present, the Home Office is barred by law from divulging any information about licence holders or their experiments. " This has allowed a nonsense culture to develop where people have to infiltrate a lab with a video camera to secretly film it, " says Lord Smith. " Scientists have to raise their heads above the parapet. We want more information to inform the public debate. " However, the names and addresses of individuals need not be revealed, the Lord Smith says. This would help protect them from extremists who have attacked scientists. The report also says the government should establish a " centre of excellence " on the " three Rs " : reduction, refinement and replacement. This would develop alternatives to vivisection and spread best practice to reduce the numbers of animals used and minimise their suffering. At present, the government spends only £60,000 directly on researching alternatives, though it claims its overall spend is £280,000. Over 2.6 million animals were used in UK research in 2001, with 85 per cent being rats, mice and other rodents. " Irresponsible and discredited " The report has been broadly welcomed by the scientific lobby. Simon Festing, spokesman for the Association of Medical Research Charities says: " Patients suffering illnesses like cancer or cystic fibrosis will be relieved that the Lords' Committee have so strongly endorsed the animals in medical research. " " With any luck the irresponsible and now discredited anti-vivisection movement should wither and die, " he says. But Sarah Kite of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection says: " We weren't expecting an abolitionists' charter. " She adds: " We welcome the idea of 'pain scores' and hope they will give a more accurate picture of what happens in labs and the level of needless suffering inflicted on animals. We're also pleased that the Lords' have said more information should be released on licence holders and their work. This can only lead to a more informed debate. " Danny Penman Related Stories Persuasion replaces coercion in animal experiments 5 July 2002 " Irrational protests " harming science, says Blair 24 May 2002 Chemical safety screening plan " unacceptable " 12 March 2002 For more related stories search the print edition Archive Weblinks Animals In Scientific Procedures report British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection Association of Medical Research Charities Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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