Press release

Published: 07 July 2025

From 2030 onwards, funding will be exclusively for non-animal research

Doctors Against Animal Experiments enthusiastically welcomes the groundbreaking decision by the Dutch parliament: The Dutch House of Representatives has voted to end public funding for monkey experiments at the country’s largest primate laboratory, the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), within five years. From 2030 onwards, all public funds may only be used for animal-free research methods.

Each year, around 1,000 monkeys are kept for animal experiments at the BPRC. Dutch policymakers have long supported a phase-out of such experiments. The current decision stipulates that an increasing share of the BPRC’s public funding will be allocated to animal-free methods each year, and less to animal testing: In 2025, €2.5 million, in 2026 already €4.5 million, and by 2030, the entire €12.5 million in government subsidies will be reserved exclusively for non-animal research. After 2030, monkey experiments at the BPRC can only be financed with non-public funds.

With this decisive step, Dutch politicians are sending a strong signal for innovative, human-relevant research and scientific progress. The political decision to redirect research funding towards animal-free methods finally reflects the current state of science and acknowledges that monkey experiments are not necessary. At the same time, the potential of modern, human-oriented technologies for medical research is enormous.

While the Netherlands is resolutely driving the transition to animal-free science, in Germany, over 99% of public funding for biomedical research still flows into projects involving animal experiments, including many with monkeys. The German government is therefore lagging far behind current international developments. “The Netherlands is an impressive example of what consistent and forward-looking research funding can look like. We call on German politicians to follow this positive example: Public funding must finally move away from monkeys and other animal experiments and instead be invested specifically in modern, animal-free research methods. This is the only way Germany can catch up internationally and enable real medical progress for humans and animals,” says Dr Dilyana Filipova, scientific officer at Doctors Against Animal Experiments.

This decision from the Netherlands is a milestone for animal welfare and science – and a wake-up call for German policymakers!

Sources

Tweede Kamer. Amendment by Member Kostic and others to replace No. 10 on means to reduce monkey testing, 19. 06. 2025

Animal Rights. Breaking: Dutch House of Representatives no longer provides money for monkey testing! 03.07.2025