The German biomedical research sector has welcomed the publication of comprehensive statistics, from across the EU, including Germany, on all uses of animals in scientific, medical and veterinary research in 2018.
The headline figures in the European Commission report show that the total number of animals used in the EU in 2018 was 8,921,758 - slightly lower than in 2017 (9,388,162). In 2018, 88% of the total were mice, fish and rats, whereas dogs, cats and monkeys account for around 0.3% of the total – for the first time these percentage figures also included Norway.
The total is made up of animals used in basic and applied research, and regulatory studies aimed at ensuring the safety of medicines and other products, routine production and education and training.
According to the EU statistics, the most used animals in Germany in 2018 were mice, rats, and fish, which represented 89% of the total – dogs, cats, and monkeys made up 0.32% (see also the case study and Notes to Editors below).
According to the EU statistics the top three countries for animal use in 2018 were France 1,752,906 (2017 - 1,757,837), UK 1,749,901 (2017 - 1,839,079) and Germany 1,629,228 (2017 - 1,793,299).
Dogs can be used to test new drugs before clinical trials are conducted in humans, while monkeys are also used in drug testing and have played a significant role in research in AIDS and developing treatments for Parkinson’s disease, as well as the Covid-19 vaccine during the 2020-21 pandemic.
Germany’s biomedical sector confirmed its commitment to openness this month when 53 institutions signed a Transparency Agreement to communicate in a more open way about how animals are used in research.
EARA executive director, Kirk Leech, said: “This year we have seen the vital contribution that research using animals has had during the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time of growing activist pressure on the European Commission to immediately end the use of animal research, these annual statistics demonstrate the commitment the biomedical sector is showing to being open and transparent about the important work it does.”
Separate figures were also produced to record the number of animals used for the creation and maintenance of genetically altered animal lines, across the EU-28 (plus Norway) in 2018 this was 1.520,791 (in 2017 the figure for the EU-28 was - 1,276,587).
Scientists in Germany have replicated the formation of a mouse embryo in a dish, allowing them to analyse its development in much more detail.
The team at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, recreated structures similar to parts of an embryo – called trunk-like-structures - by growing mouse embryonic stem cells in a special gel.
The gel provided support to the cultured cells and oriented them in space, allowing a better self-organisation.
This innovation will help scientists understand far better how a mouse develops, which will help researchers in studies on other mammals, such as humans.
Previously it was only possible to get snapshots of some of the complex processes during decisive phases of development and it is an important step in the replacement of mouse models, as scientists can now observe embryogenesis of the mouse directly and continuously in a dish.
“The new method recapitulates the early shape-generating processes of embryonic development in the Petri dish. Thus, we can get more detailed results more quickly, and reduce the number of animals we would need to get the same insights.”
Alexander Meissner, Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics.
For further information contact EARA Communications Manager, Bob Tolliday btolliday@eara.eu on +44 (0)20 3355 3095 or +44 (0)77 1552 5535
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Notes to the editor
Animal research is strictly regulated under the EU Directive 2010/63. Every procedure, from a simple blood test to major surgery, requires individual, establishment and project licences, as well as approval from animal welfare and ethical review bodies.
All organisations are committed to the ‘3Rs’ of replacement, reduction and refinement. This means avoiding or replacing the use of animals where possible; minimising the number of animals used per experiment and optimising the experience of the animals to improve animal welfare. However, as institutions expand and conduct more research, the total number of animals used can rise even if fewer animals are used per study.
Since 2013, it has been illegal to sell or import cosmetics anywhere in the EU where the finished product or its ingredients have been tested on animals.
Dogs are currently being used to develop treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a debilitating muscle wasting disease that has no cure and ultimately leads to early death.
Like humans, non-human primates (NHPs) have a prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain involved in cognitive behaviour. This means that NHPs can help scientists understand how the brain works and help us develop treatments for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and OCD.
About EARA
The European Animal Research Association (EARA) is an organisation that communicates and advocates on biomedical research using animals and provides accurate, evidence-based information. It has 117 partner organisations, including private and public research bodies, universities, regional and national biomedical associations and suppliers, across 21 European countries.
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