UK Government Unveils Plan to Phase Out Animal Testing

Tue Nov 11 2025 15:47:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A comprehensive strategy to eliminate animal testing in the UK aims to replace it with innovative techniques by 2030, responding to growing ethical concerns and advancements in science.

The UK government has announced its commitment to phasing out animal testing, laying out a plan that includes ending the use of animals for certain safety tests by the end of this year. It targets a significant reduction in the use of dogs and primates in medicine testing by 2030. The initiative is part of a broader push towards utilizing advanced technologies such as cell cultures and AI. While the RSPCA welcomes the plan, some scientists raise concerns about the feasibility of completely replacing animal testing with current alternatives.

The UK government has detailed for the first time how it aims to fulfil its manifesto pledge to work toward phasing out animal testing.

The new plans include replacing animal testing for some major safety tests by the end of this year and cutting the use of dogs and non-human primates in tests for human medicines by at least 35% by 2030.

The Labour Party emphasized its commitment in its manifesto stating it would partner with scientists, industry, and civil society to phase out animal testing.

Science Minister Lord Vallance expressed optimism about a future largely free from animal testing, indicating it could take time to achieve significant progress.

Animal experiments in the UK peaked in 2015, affecting 4.14 million animals, primarily driven by genetic modifications. By 2020, the number dropped to 2.88 million, but the decline has plateaued.

Lord Vallance hopes to revitalize this trend by facilitating alternatives such as animal tissues grown from stem cells, AI, and computer simulations, moving towards a target of zero animal tests in the long run.

Critics, including scientists, warn that achieving near zero tests on animals poses significant challenges, emphasizing that non-animal methods cannot completely replicate the biological complexities involved in many areas of research.

The government's plan outlines starting with the elimination of certain tests on animals by the end of 2025, as it transitions to advanced lab methods using human cells.

With an increase in funding and the establishment of a Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods, the initiative has garnered cautious support from various animal welfare organizations, while also drawing skepticism from some within the scientific community regarding the practicality of completely eliminating animal testing.