Labour has promised to phase out animal testing as part of a raft of measures to shore up animal rights.
In 2017 3.79 million procedures were carried out using living animals, including cats, dogs, monkeys and horses.
Five per cent of these involved severe levels of suffering and 7% involved the animal dying after being put under anaesthetic.
More than 90% of animal tests fail to lead to treatments for humans.
Labour is committing to review the Animals Scientific Procedures Act 1986 (APSA), with a long-term commitment to phase out animal testing completely.
The party will also seek to make existing animal testing licenses open and transparent and commit to a ban on the export and import of animals for use in research.
It comes amid recent concerns have emerged that animal tests will have to be duplicated if the UK cannot agree access to the EU-wide chemicals regulation ‘REACH’ database in the event of a No Deal.
The announcement is part of Labour’s Animal Welfare Manifesto launched on Wednesday which was informed by a consultation which received more than 600 responses from party members, animal rights organisations and the general public,
Sue Hayman said: “After consulting with the public and groups involved with research, it’s clear that we need to focus minds and resources on alternatives to animal testing by declaring our intention to phase it out. It is not only harmful to the animals, but very often ineffective as a means to develop medical treatments for humans.
“Given the likelihood that companies will have to duplicate tests of products already conducted if the government cannot agree access to the EU-wide chemicals regulation ‘REACH’ database, there is a real risk that animal tests may have to be duplicated in the case of a No Deal Brexit .
“Labour urges the government to categorically rule out the prospect of duplicate animal testing and to commit to the long-term phase out of the use of animal testing in collaboration with researchers, medical professionals and animal welfare experts.”
New policies in the party’s 50-point Animal Welfare Manifesto
- Banning trophy hunting imports.
- Banning pet primates.
- The inclusion of wild animals in the increase in maximum sentencing for animal cruelty.
- Banning the sale and use of snares and glue traps.
- Working with international partners to stop the return of commercial whaling.
- Banning electric pulse fishing.
- Reviewing the use of the whip in horse racing.
It also reiterates a commitment to strengthening the Hunting Act, ending the badger cull, giving tenants the right to keep pets, enshrining animal sentience in law and ending the live export of animals for slaughter.
