United Kingdom presents roadmap to phase out animal testing
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Germany lags far behind
The British government has just released a comprehensive strategy aimed at accelerating the reduction of animal testing in research and product safety testing (1). The goal of this so-called roadmap is to further establish modern, scientifically sound, human-based methods and gradually replace experiments on animals. With this strategy, the United Kingdom underscores its ambition not only to pursue national animal welfare objectives but also to take on an international leadership role in the development of animal-free testing methods. The nationwide organisation Doctors Against Animal Experiments welcomes this development and criticizes the fact that Germany is falling far behind in this international movement.
The UK’s roadmap focuses on new technological approaches such as organ-on-a-chip systems, AI-based analyses, and 3D bioprinting of human tissue, which are to be used more extensively in research and in the testing of chemicals and medicines. The roadmap also sets specific timelines: by the end of 2026, animal tests for assessing skin and eye irritation as well as sensitization are to be ended. From 2027 onward, only animal-free methods are to be used for botulinum toxin (Botox) testing and a particular quality control test applied, for instance, to vaccines. By 2030, the government also plans to reduce the use of dogs and non-human primates in pharmaceutical research.
The plan was jointly developed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and the Home Office. It responds to growing demand from research, industry, and animal welfare to expand animal-free testing methods. In parallel, the roadmap aims to strengthen collaboration between research, industry, and regulatory authorities, define standards, and facilitate regulatory acceptance of new methods. Specific training programs for young scientists are also planned to better integrate animal-free methods. To accelerate innovation and validation, the government is providing around £60 million (over €68 million), supplemented by an additional £15.9 million (over €18 million) from research funding programs.
With this roadmap, the British government is sending a clear signal for technological transformation in the life sciences and joins the list of countries that have already established phase-out plans. The United States, Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the EU have already developed plans for moving away from scientifically unreliable and ethically unjustifiable animal experiments, at least in certain areas. In fact, the UK aims to become a global leader in innovative, animal-free research.
“Setting concrete target years for ending specific animal tests is a groundbreaking step,” comments Dr. med. vet. Corina Gericke, vice chair of Doctors Against Animal Experiments. “On the other hand, these are tests that already account for only a tiny fraction of all animal experiments. For example, skin and eye irritation tests in the UK made up just 0.1% last year (2). It is also insufficient to merely aim at reducing the use of dogs and monkeys in certain areas.” The organization further criticizes the fact that the lack of translatability of animal experiments results to humans is not named as a key driver behind the British strategy.
Despite these criticisms, Doctors Against Animal Experiments calls on the German government to take the British plan as a model, as it demonstrates a clear will to advance the transition toward animal-free and human-relevant research. “Instead of initiating a paradigm shift in which animal testing is no longer the default, the current German government risks even easing the approval of animal experiments,” says Gericke, referring to the coalition agreement, which foresees the creation of a dedicated animal experiments law — something that, in the view of Doctors Against Animal Experiments, would represent a dramatic setback for human-relevant research, patients, and animals.