Camp Beagle have twice achieved 100,000 UK signatories in 6 months on e-petitions that have led to Parliamentary debates.
1. Ban commercial breeding for laboratories. Implement reform to approve & use NAMs
Revoke all licences (PEL) for commercial breeders of laboratory animals. Require all Project Licences (PPLs) applications be reviewed by an independent Non Animal Methods (NAMs) specialist committee. Revise s24 ASPA 1986 to allow review. Urge International Regulators to accept & promote NAMs.
We believe the use of animals is scientifically, ethically, morally and financially (taxpayer funded) unjustifiable.
Defined in 1959, UK law enshrines the principles of the 3Rs. The UK must abandon these old principles and focus on the development and use of Non Animal Methods.
Having an independent NAMs specialist committee review applications for Project Licences (PPLs) prior to their approval, so that a licence is only granted if there is no replacement method.
Commercial breeders of laboratory animals are profit rather than animal-welfare focused.
Hansard Debate Transcript – Commercial Breeding – 16th January 2023
Our MP briefing document can be downloaded by Clicking Here
2. End the use of animals for toxicity tests & prioritise non-animal methods (NAMs)
Radically divert funding and evolve policy to implement the use of NAMs in all regulatory toxicity tests. Actively encourage use of NAMs, noting that this data is of superior human relevance compared to animal tests data. Establish clear pathways to develop & validate NAMs and end the use of animals.
In 2021, 302,423 animals were used in regulatory tests, including 2,431 dogs and 1,956 primates, primarily in legally required ‘tick box’ safety/toxicity studies. Yet, animal tests cannot reliably predict human responses to chemicals or pharmaceuticals, or provide adequate information regarding safety and efficacy. Evidence shows NAMs to be more predictive of human biology, more economically advantageous via new prospects in scientific innovation, and prevent the suffering of millions of animals.
Hansard Debate Transcript – Toxicity – 19th February 2024
Copy and put in your browser https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-02-19/debates/0C64E6BD-AE31-4DD7-80BB-3CEDC6272C2E/AnimalTesting
Our MP briefing document can be downloaded by Clicking Here
Our debate in February 2024 ended with the announcement of 5 Government commitments:
1. Double the Investment: UK Research and Innovation to double funding for research into the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine) and non-animal alternatives from £10 million to £20 million.
2. A Roadmap: ‘A plan to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of technologies and methods to reduce reliance on the use of animals in science’ to be published this summer.
3. Increasing the cost of animal research: An increase in fees for licences to use animals in research.
4. Considering licence duration: A review of the duration of licences for research using animals with a view to putting ‘more challenge into the system’.
5. Measuring public opinion: A ‘Public Attitudes to Animal Research Survey’ with the British public to be published in the autumn.
To our knowledge this debate achieved more than any other anti-vivisection campaign in decades.
We are under no illusion that the then Conservative Government made these commitments at least in part as it was known that a General Election would take place in the near future.
We are also not surprised that the new Labour government is unlikely to honour the commitments made and now continues with the weak manifesto pledge of a ‘phase out.’
We will be starting a new petition when the petitions committee reforms.
We do not support petitions on other platforms such as change.org as they do not lead to even a consideration of a debate and cannot therefore make change. Also change.org in particular repeatedly asks for money throughout the signing process to promote the petition.
The Camp Beagle Team