Are scientists required to use non-animal replacements?
Every country has different legislation and not all countries impose a requirement to use alternative methods. For example, in the USA (the world’s largest laboratory animal user) although researchers must consider replacement techniques, there is no legal requirement forcing them to use them. This means that if a researcher experiments on animals even though there is an accepted total non-animal replacement, they will not be breaking the law. In countries like Japan and China, legislation is very weak or non-existent. The situation is different in the UK and the rest of the EU, but by no means perfect. The law does say that if an ‘alternative’ method exists (which includes reduction and refinement as well as replacement), it must be used. However, the Dr Hadwen Trust is not convinced that this is robustly or effectively enforced or monitored. Much is made of the requirement to demonstrate that non-animal approaches have been considered. Yet in practice, this amounts to little more tha
