29 July 2024

Long-awaited statistics on the use of animals for scientific purposes in the 27 EU Member States and Norway during 2021 and 2022 have been published. We dive into the figures to see how many animals were used, which species, and in which ways, to explore how the data can inform the transition away from animal use.

For the first time, a systematic trend analysis was included to make direct comparison with previous years data available in order to monitor the objectives of Directive 2010/63/EU.

2021 Statistics

In 2021, after three years of consecutive decrease, the total number of animals used for the first time increased significantly to 9.41 million. This is 18.5% higher than in 2020, and 6.6% higher compared to 2018.

This increase is mainly due to three research projects, two using salmon in Norway and one using larval form of sea bass in Spain, accounting for over 1.3 million animals. Part of the increase can also be attributed to projects that were either cancelled or postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns and carried out in 2021.

Positively, 13 Member States reduced the number of animals used for the first time in 2021 compared to 2020.

2022 Statistics

In 2022, the total number of animals used for the first time decreased to 8.39 million, 10.9% lower than 2021, and 5% lower than 2018. 

This confirms the exceptional nature of the increase reported in 2021, and highlights a longer-term decreasing trend.

Species

In both years, mice continue to be the most used species, followed by fish, rats, domestic fowl and rabbits.

Fish saw a dramatic increase in use in 2021, whilst 2022 saw an increase in the proportion of reptiles used.

Disappointingly, the total number of non-human primates used for the first time increased. Most non-human primates were imported from Africa and Asia, shifting more prominently towards Africa after the Chinese export ban introduced in 2020. The percentage of those that came from self-sustaining colonies (from parents bred in captivity) increased from 58.8% in 2021 to 74.4% in 2022, a positive shift towards eliminating capture of wild primates for breeding purposes. 

Genetic alteration

In 2022, 24.8% of animal uses were carried out on animals that were genetically altered, an increase of 4.3% compared to 2021. Of these, 17.5% were carrying a harmful phenotype. Zebrafish and mice continue to be the most genetically altered species. 

In addition, 852,145 animals were used in 2022 for the creation and maintenance of genetically altered animal lines, an increase of 28.1% on 2021. 

Severity of suffering

The proportion of ‘severe’ uses continues a downward trend since 2018, but this still represents 918,202 animals in 2021, and 784,048 animals in 2022.

However, it is worrisome that the proportion of ‘moderate’ uses has been increasing since 2019, reaching over 42% of uses in 2022. 

Types of use

As in previous years, most animal uses were conducted for research purposes.

The number of uses of animals used for regulatory purposes continued to decrease by 6.2% in 2021, and 16.2% in 2022. This is mainly due to continuous reductions in animal uses related to legislations on medicinal products for human use and food legislation, amongst others. This can be attributed to combined efforts from EU regulators, including the EDQM and the European Commission and industry via EPAA, as well as changes in legislation. This includes the decision in 2021 to completely replace the rabbit pyrogen test within five years, and the replacement of the use of mouse bioassay for the purposes of shellfish toxin testing by the so-called Lawrence method.

Unfortunately, this trend is not reflected in other legislation, including medical devices legislation and industrial chemicals legislation, where the number of animals used to satisfy regulatory requirements has been increasing since 2018. 

Routine production saw an increase of 1.5% in 2021 and 15.7% in 2022. This category includes monoclonal antibody production by the mouse ascites method, one of the most severe procedures. In 2022, only 3 Member States reported the use of the mouse ascites method, with France representing 99.5% of that, using 49,038 mice. Germany stopped the use of animals for this purpose in 2022. The Commission itself mentions in the 2022 report that the use of mouse ascites method which results in high severities and has alternative production methods available should be discontinued. 

What do the statistics tell us? 

The statistics indicate that policies to promote the development and use of non-animal technologies and approaches require a further push in order to significantly reduce animal experiments in Europe.

Although a positive trend is now seen in the replacement of a small number of methods, this took decades to achieve after the development of non-animal alternatives. Likewise, the mouse ascites method continues to be accepted in some EU countries despite its near ban in most Member States, and the existence of valid alternatives.

The upward trends in the use of some species like the ones belonging to groups of non-human primates are also worrying in an era where human-based methods have been thriving.

It will be important to take lessons from the social, economic, regulatory and technological factors that influenced the slow transitions that are now taking place, in order to plan more effective transitions moving forward.

Regards Mark