Animal Aid has been campaigning against all animal experiments since we were founded in 1977. Incredibly the Lethal Dose 50% test (LD50) – one of the cruellest and most scientifically unreliable animal tests – was devised in 1927, but is still being used today!
The LD50 involves giving groups of animals increasing doses of a substance until half of them are dead. As well as being incredibly cruel, the test does not reflect real life situations for people. Additionally, Animal Aid has funded the development of an animal-free version of the oral-LD50, which is in use today, but animals are still being used in LD50 tests.
In July 2024, the government pledged to ‘partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing’. We will hold them to this promise. To show MPs, policy makers and the public how achievable this goal is, we have written a ‘roadmap to phase out animal testing’. This roadmap addresses those experiments required by law. We will publish another roadmap in due course for all the experiments which are not a legal requirement. Our initial roadmap has five simple steps:
• Immediately establish a NAMs audit body to identify non-animal methodologies (NAMs) already in use and those requiring development.
• Remove real and perceived barriers to NAMs use through training and education. Enforce a legal principle, with immediate effect, that animal testing is a last resort.*
• Divert funding previously allocated to animal testing, to develop, promote and implement NAMs.
• Support regulators with a revised framework to drive forward-thinking in their approaches to NAMs and maximise their acceptance and use. Establish an environment which allows industry stakeholders to submit NAMs as the rule instead of the exception.
• Develop a community approach where all stakeholders are heard to enable an efficient and just transition.
*Whilst we have included the proposal ‘To enforce a legal principle, with immediate effect, that animal testing is a last resort’ this does not mean that we see any animal experiment as ‘acceptable’. It does mean that, if enacted, all avenues should be explored before animal experiments are even considered. With so many NAMs available and with animal experiments not being reliably translated to humans, there would not be any situation where animal experiments are warranted.
The roadmap urges everyone to ‘be inspired, recognise the possibilities and commit to do everything in your power to achieve the goal of an end to animal testing’. Please contact your MP to ask them to do their bit!
In 2023, we achieved significant milestones in our campaign against lethal dose animal tests, including a Parliamentary reception and delivering a petition with thousands of signatures to the Minister. We briefed MPs, engaged with Government Ministers and addressed the Labour Party conference. Last year our campaign efforts were recognised with the prestigious LUSH Prize for public awareness!
Now, with the newly elected Labour government pledging to phase out animal testing, we need your support to ensure swift, decisive action to turn this promise into reality!
We are asking people to write to their MP urging them to support our roadmap which, if transferred into government policy, would see an end not only to the LD50, but to all animal experiments required by law. We’d like MPs to write to the Minister urging him to follow our ambitious and achievable roadmap.
Please fill in your details and an email will be sent to your MP. Feel free to amend the text, if you have time, as slightly different wording is more likely to be well-received. Thank you.
This action is only available to residents of the United Kingdom
