Less than two million laboratory animals for the first time German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) publishes figures for 2024

Link to the current animal testing statistics: External Link:Questions and answers on animal experiments, alternative methods and laboratory animal numbers

57 percent of the animals were used in basic research, while 15 percent were used in application-oriented (“translational”) research. The latter is primarily concerned with the development of new therapies and drugs. 17 percent of the experiments served regulatory purposes such as quality control of medical products and safety testing of chemical substances. Seven percent of the animals were used for the conservation of genetically modified populations and three per cent for other purposes (initial, continuing and further education and training, environmental protection and species conservation). Overall, around 129,000 fewer animals were used in experiments than in the previous year.

Steep decline in “surplus” laboratory animals

Since 2021, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has also published the number of animals that were bred for scientific purposes, but then killed without being used (“surplus” laboratory animals). The decline is particularly pronounced in this group. It comprised 1.1 million animals, around 264,000 fewer than in the previous year (a decline of 19 percent). It is also noteworthy that the figures have fallen for the third consecutive year. The animals in question are mainly mice and fish that are produced during the breeding of genetically modified laboratory animals.

Cancer research is the focus of many experiments

As in previous years, cancer research was the main focus of disease research. Around 43 percent of laboratory animals were used in applied research in this area. In basic research, however, research on the immune system dominated (22 percent), followed by neuroscience (20 percent) and oncology (12 percent).

Most experiments were of low severity

Overall, the severity of the experiments was predominantly low (63 percent). The proportion of animal experiments involving moderate or severe stress was 28.4 percent and 3.6 percent respectively, which is very low compared to the EU average. In addition, five percent of the experiments were carried out under general anaesthesia, from which the animals did not wake up.

Animal Welfare Act sets strict requirements

The German Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Welfare Laboratory Animal Ordinance set strict requirements for the approval, conduct and monitoring of animal experiments. For example, they specify the purposes for which such experiments may be carried out. When deciding on approval, it must always be examined whether the intended purpose cannot be achieved by other methods or procedures.

The approval and control of animal experiments is the responsibility of the authorities responsible for animal welfare in the German federal states (“Laender”). They report the numbers of laboratory animals collected by the laboratory animal facilities to the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, which collects and processes the data and forwards it to the European Commission. The basis for this reporting obligation is the European Union’s Laboratory Animals Directive 2010/63/EU. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has published animal testing statistics since the 2020 reporting year.

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH). It protects people's health preventively in the fields of public health and veterinary public health. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment provides advice to the Federal Government as well as the Federal States (‘Laender’) on questions related to food, feed, chemical and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts its own research on topics closely related to its assessment tasks.

The German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) was founded in 2015 and is an integral part of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment). It co-ordinates nationwide activities with the goals of restricting animal experiments to only those which are considered essential, and safeguarding the best possible protection for laboratory animals. Moreover, it intends to stimulate research activities and encourage scientific dialogue.

This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.