RISE IN NUMBERS OF ANIMALS USED IN MEDICAL RESEARCH IS NOT A FAILURE OF 3RS - HARRIS

4.19.19pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 24th Jul 2006

Commenting on the rise in the number of animals used in medical research indicated in figures today, Liberal Democrat Science spokesman, Dr Evan Harris MP said:

"Calling this increase a failure in the Government's policy of reduction is to misunderstand what the 3Rs strategy is about - it is about minimising the number of animals used. An overall increase is not a failure of policy.

"The Liberal Democrats are concerned about any unnecessary suffering of animals and insist on the toughest possible regulation of medical research using animals to the highest possible welfare standards, strongly supporting the 3Rs strategy.

"This increase is an inevitable result of increasing volumes of medical research - seen throughout the western world - new attempts to find the cause and cure for diseases and the emergence of exciting new approaches using genetically modified animals, also known as transgenic animals.

"Transgenic animals are bred over several generations to express a new gene, often mimicking more closely human disease, but all such generations of animals - including non-modified animals used only for breeding - are included in the figures.

"Although the 3Rs strategy includes reduction as well as refinement and replacement, reduction needs to be seen as minimisation and not as an absolute reduction. The Government cannot deliver an absolute reduction without damaging medical progress and needs to stress that efforts are focussed on minimising the numbers of animals in each experiment and minimising the use of animals overall.

"I am pleased the National Centre for the 3Rs has recognised this and describes reduction as minimisation."