FOI2025/00055: Animal Use statistics under ASPA 1986
Case reference FOI2025/00055
Received 21 January 2025
Published 14 April 2025
Request
Request received: 21 January 2025
re Animal Use under ASPA 1986 – MRC Facts and Figures1:
1. Please can you tell me the number and species of animals, that were killed without being used for regulated procedures for 2023? These additional statistics on breeding and genotyping of animals for scientific procedures, Great Britain were last compulsory to collect for the 2017 under EU Directive (2010/63/EU). Since then it has not been required that Establishments keep these figures however I would like them if you do. If you no longer keep these records please can I have the information that you submitted for publication relating to 2017.
2. Were any animals rehomed in 2023? If so, please may I have their number and species.
3. Can you please tell me for 2023 how many, if any, project licences the Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body (AWERB) for your Establishment reviewed and decided to prevent them continuing for Home Office approval, this may be because for instance they identified a New Approach Methodology that could be used instead of animals.
4. Finally, can you please tell me how many sites are covered by your Establishment licence?
Response
Response sent: 17 February 2025
(Full details of this response can be viewed in the attached copy)
1. In 2023, 107,926 animals were sacrificed under Schedule 1 across MRC owned establishments that were not returned as part of the Home Office data collection on procedures on living animals.
This figure includes, for example, animals bred as a result of breeding genetically altered animals. It also includes animals sacrificed to collect tissue, which was used for experimental purposes.
2. In 2023 three rats were rehomed by the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
3. In 2023, one project licence application was prevented from continuing for Home Office approval by the relevant AWERB.
Prior to submitting project license applications to the AWERB, applicants are provided with detailed advice and guidance, including extensive initial review. The AWERB will only approve applications if there is a clear scientific justification for the methods to be used and if members are content that the harms involved in the programme of work are justified in terms of the likely benefits. As applicants are usually willing and able to implement any required revisions requested by AWERB, outright rejections of applications are rare.
4. Three MRC-owned establishments that carry out research using animals have their own separate licences, with one other MRC-owned establishment being covered by its host university’s establishment licence.
Documents
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