The reality of British laboratories

19th December 2024

A report published by the government this week has once again revealed a disturbing pattern of non-compliance in British animal laboratories, highlighting the urgent need for animal experiments to end. Below, we break down the key findings of this deeply troubling report. 

Alarming statistics on non-compliance

• 169 cases of non-compliance were reported across 48 establishments in 2023. This means breaches were found at nearly 36% of all licensed animal labs.  
• 57% of these breaches involved failures to provide adequate care for animals, a shocking figure that has been increasing, rising from 78 cases in 2022 to 96 cases in 2023.
• 43% of breaches (73 cases) involved laboratories failing to adhere to their licence.
• 88% of breaches (148 cases) were self-reported by the establishments themselves.

Animals affected

A total of 154,904 animals were impacted by these breaches in 2023, including:

• 102,960 rats
• 980 rabbits
• 384 ferrets
• 54 non-human primates (NHPs)
• 6 dogs

One shocking incident involved the use of over 100,000 more rats, rabbits and mice than were authorised under the laboratory’s licence. The response? Merely a letter of reprimand.

Disturbing welfare failures

Breaches led to 553 animals suffering adverse welfare outcomes, a reduction of nearly 48% from 2022 but still deeply concerning. Examples of welfare failures included:

• 11 non-human primates were left outside overnight without food or water.
• Mice found dead after being trapped or drowning in faulty cages in multiple incidents.
• Fish found dead due to poor water quality in multiple incidents.
• 7 birds, intended for release, left in bags for days and discovered dead.
• Multiple cases of animals being left without food or water.
• Multiple instances of unauthorised procedures being performed.

Weak enforcement

Enforcement measures appear woefully inadequate given the scale of non-compliance:

• 144 instances of inspector advice.
• 58 letters of reprimand.
• Only 6 compliance notices issued across all breaches.

The time for change is now

These findings underscore the ethical and systemic issues plaguing animal testing in the UK. It’s clear that the current framework is failing both animals and the public. Stronger enforcement, greater transparency and a commitment to rapidly alternatives to end animal testing are urgently needed to address these shortcomings.

Together, we must continue to hold the government accountable and push for meaningful change. Every animal’s life matters, and it is our responsibility to ensure they’re all treated with the care and respect they deserve.

Find out more about our work to end animal testing here.