The German Animal Welfare Federation has sent a letter to the Federal Ministry of Defense calling on it to consistently switch to methods that do not involve animal testing in military medical research and training. This follows the federal government’s response to the parliamentary question submitted by the parliamentary group Die Linke titled “Laboratory Animals in the German Armed Forces,” in which an increase in animal testing projects is anticipated due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“Seeking to expand animal testing in military research sends the wrong signal!” commented Thomas Schröder, president of the German Animal Welfare Federation. “Modern, human-based, and animal-free methods are already available and must be consistently further developed and implemented. The previous federal government was already in the process of developing a reduction strategy for animal testing. The current government must build on this effort instead of clinging to outdated and unethical methods that, not least, also pose a risk to human lives.”
RESULTS SCIENTIFICALLY QUESTIONABLE
Although the Animal Welfare Act prohibits animal testing for the development or testing of weapons, ammunition, and related equipment, medical treatment for war injuries may be tested on live animals. Studies have shown for years that there are significant scientific uncertainties involved: For example, practicing surgical techniques on animals offers little added value and can already be better replaced by virtual simulations or dummies. In its response, the federal government also states that animals are to be used to research the effects of nerve agent poisoning and to test active ingredients against corresponding neuromuscular disorders. From a scientific perspective, this is questionable: the results of such experiments are difficult to extrapolate to humans.
EU LAW REQUIRES AN END TO ANIMAL TESTING
In 2024, the Federal Ministry of Defense used 294 animals for scientific purposes. Rats in particular were used, but dogs and sheep were also employed. The federal government provides little information on the exact nature of their use, citing that the details are classified. The German Animal Welfare Federation points out that it is not only the EU that has set the complete replacement of animal testing as a long-term goal. A shift is already emerging internationally as well: The U.S. has just enacted a law prohibiting the use of cats and dogs for military purposes and providing for a phase-out of experiments on primates. The use of animals for certain military training purposes has already been discontinued.
