Annual Statistics Reveal Disappointing ‘Phaseout’ of Animals in Scientific Research in Great Britain
Thursday 23 October, 2025 – The annual statistics for scientific procedures performed on living animals have been released, revealing a disappointing lack of progress in the phasing out of animal testing in Great Britain. Despite the Labour Party’s promise of “Change” in their 2024 general election manifesto, the latest statistics show only a 1% decrease in procedures compared to the previous year.
The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU), part of the Home Office, is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). Kate Salmon, campaign manager for the Naturewatch Foundation and a member of the Protection and Welfare Stakeholder Group which meets quarterly with ASRU, expressed concern over the slow progress. “The numbers released today are a clear indication that our current government is in no rush to end the use of animals in scientific research. It couldn’t be any slower,” said Salmon.
While recognizing the complexities of completely eliminating animal testing, Salmon points out that there are areas where immediate action could be taken, such as making it mandatory to use historical data for chemical safety checks in household products. She questions why companies are still allowed to test on animals when there is no legal requirement to do so.
In May 2025, the then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, acknowledged that many companies only carry out animal testing because they are required to by regulation and legislation, not because it adds any value. This type of testing often involves repeated dosing, without pain relief, for days on end.
Despite this, ASRU continues to issue licenses for these types of tests, raising questions about the harm-benefit analysis used to justify them. “The entire legislative structure on animal testing in the UK is a mess,” says Salmon. “Ministers have even said it themselves, yet we continue to see a lack of progress in addressing this issue. Meanwhile, millions of animals, including dogs, pigs, monkeys, horses, and fish, are subjected to pain and suffering before being killed every year. In this day and age, why is a modern society like the UK still involved in such unnecessary and barbaric procedures?”
Naturewatch Foundation is calling on the government to immediately remove loopholes that allow household ingredients to be tested on animals, despite there being no regulatory requirement to do so under the 2015 household product animal testing ban.
For more information and advice, visit the Naturewatch Foundation website at www.naturewatch.org.
About Naturewatch Foundation
Naturewatch Foundation is a registered charity that has been speaking out on behalf of animals for 30 years. They campaign against animal abuse, lobby for improved animal protection legislation, raise awareness through education, and support the World Animal Day movement. For more information, visit www.naturewatch.org.
Contact:
Kate Salmon
Campaign Manager
kate@naturewatch.org
01242 252871
