Response: Research on animals in the defence industry
Published 10 October 2024
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| Reference number | FOI2024-00482 |
|---|---|
| Date of request | 9 October 2024 |
| Date of response | 10 October 2024 |
| Outcome | Information not held |
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (the department) received the following request for information which we responded to under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA):
When is research on animals for the defence industry likely to be phased out and ultimately ended?
You said:
‘Dstl will continue to undertake research against the threats faced by the UKs Armed Forces, for as long as these threats remain.’
What threats?
Seemingly this could be that you’ll never stop using and torturing animals in the name of Defence? As you’ll always percieve a threat.
I have asked you before now, could one of those threats be new nerve agents and or biological threats? You said that the UK wasn’t developing more of these weapons…so are you guessing what other countries may be using? This ending in curiosity tests?
‘As stated previously, Dstl is committed to employing the 3Rs principles in its work requiring the use of animal models.
Where have animal tests and experiments been refined, replaced..could you give real time examples.
What non animal research agencies are you consulting with?
‘and whilst significant advances have been made in Cell Culture and Computational Models, ‘
- Only 2 non animal methodologies are mentioned here…what of bio engineering (making skin) mini hearts (that are now readily available) and organs on a chip?
‘neither are as yet able to fully replicate the complex interplay between multiple organs and physiological systems within the body.’
Who has deemed the upcoming non animal methodologies not yet valid?
Again, it begs the question; you as an agency are dedicated to researching injuries and deaths caused by noxious weapons…so what is being used on animals per se and how would telling the British Public what substances you are testing on these innocent creatures create an environment of state insecurity?
‘Animal models are only used when this whole body response is required to be studied as part of the investigation. Emerging non animal models will be utilised when the technology has proven to be mature enough to replace the use of an animal model.’
Emerging non animal science: waiting for it to ‘mature’ who gets to say non animal methods are still immature?
Do you have non animal researchers on board or are you in remote consult with them?
What funding will your department get for non animal methods in view of Labour seeking to phase vivisection out?
Our response
We can confirm that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (the department) does not hold any information in scope of your request. As your request relates to the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory, then you may want to redirect your request to cio-foi@mod.gov.uk.