Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation, comments on the 2024 laboratory animal statistics published by the German Center for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R):
"It is to be welcomed that the number of animals used in animal experiments in Germany has been steadily declining since 2019. This development shows that it is possible to replace animal testing with science that does not cause animal suffering. The fact that Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner Silvia Breher also emphasizes the increasing importance of animal-free methods is an important signal. Now it is time to follow up on these words with action and to consistently promote and massively support the expansion of animal-free methods.
The number of animals used in experiments is still alarmingly high: almost two million animals, mainly mice and fish, but also cats, dogs, and primates, continue to be used in animal experiments or killed for scientific purposes. In addition, there are over a million animals that were originally bred for animal experiments but were not used and were killed as “surplus.”
The further reduction of animal numbers must therefore be approached strategically and accelerated. A “reduction strategy” – developed under the traffic light coalition with the participation of research, industry, and animal welfare organizations – is ready to go. This should be published and implemented by the federal government without delay. Ultimately, a fundamental rethink is needed, a paradigm shift – towards science that does not rely on animal testing at all."
