In terms of animal testing, Germany ranks second behind France, according to the latest figures* from the European Union (EU) for 2022. The German Animal Welfare Federation is calling for a strategy to phase out animal testing and more funding for animal-free research and criticizes Germany for not yet doing enough. In Germany, 1.73 million animals were used.
"Although the number of laboratory animals in the EU fell for the first time in 2022, Germany is still doing too little to replace animal experiments with methods that do not cause suffering," criticizes Leah Haut, expert on animal-free science at the German Animal Welfare Federation. "The statistics put our country in a bitter second place." The German Animal Welfare Federation is therefore calling on the German government to present the strategy for reducing animal testing that it promised in the coalition agreement. From the animal rights activists' point of view, a strategy for the gradual phasing out of animal testing is also urgently needed throughout the EU. Animal-free research methods that do not involve animal suffering should also receive greater financial support.
EU AND NORWAY "USED" 9,340,729 ANIMALS IN 2022
In 2022, a total of 8,477,845 animals were used for experimental purposes throughout the EU and Norway. In addition, 862,884 animals were used for the production or maintenance of genetically modified lines. This brings the total number to 9,340,729 animals - less than in the previous year 2021, but more than in 2020. "It is still difficult to assess whether the decline is a first glimmer of hope and the trend will continue or whether it is a coronavirus-related slump," says Haut. The figures do not include those animals that laboratories dispose of as "surplus" or that are killed for the removal of organs and tissues for scientific purposes.
* Source: European Commission- Animals in Science: Animals in science - European Commission (europa.eu)
