February 7, 2014

Government announcement on animal research

In 2010 the Government committed to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research. They announced their Delivery Plan, Working to reduce the use of animals in scientific research, which explains how they are going to meet this commitment. The document is produced by The Home Office Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Government Office for Science, and details:

• How they plan to deliver their commitment whilst not harming UK science and innovation
• The new and existing initiatives that they believe will replace animal use, reduce the number of animals and refine the procedures to further minimise suffering (the 3Rs)
• Why they feel transparency and openness are so important and how they plan to build on the Declaration of Openness

Speakers:

David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science

Norman Baker, Minister of State for Crime Prevention (responsible for animals in science regulation)

Prof Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser

Prof Dominic Wells, Professor in Translational Medicine, Royal Veterinary College and Chair of the Animal Science Group