Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Joe Robertson (Conservative) on Monday, 17 November 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 November 2025. It was answered by Dan Jarvis (Labour) on Monday, 24 November 2025 on behalf of the Home Office.

Animal Experiments

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the strategy Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025 and the target to replace in vivo skin irritation testing, how many procedures were carried out for this purpose in 2024.

Answer

The Home Office is committed to supporting the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods to animal testing, as outlined in the published strategy: Replacing animals in science’, published on 11 November 2025.

The last licence authorising the use of the rabbit pyrogen test was granted in 2017. The most recent reported use of the test was in 2018. No pyrogen testing has been reported since this date.

The latest published statistics show that no procedures were reported under the category of ‘skin irritation/corrosion’ tests.

In 2024, three procedures were reported under the category of ‘eye irritation/corrosion’ tests.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in scientific procedures. The statistics can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/animals-in-science-statistics

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
91877
Session
2024-26
Related items
Grouped for answer
Yes
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Animal welfare Animal experiments Allergies Skin
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk