What laws govern animal experiments?
In the UK, vivisection is controlled by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which states experiments can only take place if the expected benefits to humans outweigh the animals’ suffering. In practice though, it allows experiments for almost any reason, such as testing food additives, weapons, tobacco products and alcohol. And in reality, no animal experiments help people because the information obtained is unreliable. The scientists like to keep their experiments secret and the Act encourages that – in fact, someone working in a lab can be imprisoned for two years simply for exposing what takes place!
