Almost 200,000 animals were used in scientific research and testing procedures last year – down 20% on 2017’s figures.
A total of 199,800 experiments were performed on creatures including horses, rabbits, ferrets and pigs in 2018 – the lowest number since 2013.
The severity of the procedures was also reduced, new figures published by the Health Products Regulatory Authority said.
In its report the organisation noted the “complete replacement” of animals in scientific research is the “ultimate goal” of EU regulations. However, it claimed this is not currently possible, adding: “After generating as much information as possible using non-animal alternatives, animal studies can be necessary to fill knowledge gaps in order to safeguard human, animal and environmental health.”
The number of “non-recovery” procedures resulting in the death of an animal was more than halved to 1,065, representing fewer than 1% of the experiments conducted last year.
Those classified as having a “severe” impact on the subject also decreased from 77,596 in 2017 to 33,746. A total of 55% of the proceudres involved “mild” severity while 27% was described as “moderate”.
Almost 150,000 experiments were carried out on mice, while rats were used 21,635 times.
No dogs were used for research and testing purposes for the first time last year.
Horses, donkeys and cross-breed equines were used in 54 procedures last year, while rabbits were the subject of 171 experiments.
Ferrets were used 288 times and pigs on 1,662 occasions.
