The BUAV welcomes a statement by the UK’s DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Minister Dan Norris regarding REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and animal testing in response to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Michael Hancock MP. The BUAV has been raising the issue of the dire animal testing implications of REACH with DEFRA for some time.

The Minister clearly states in an answer today that animal testing under REACH should be a last resort and that companies must not conduct pre-emptive testing before testing proposals are agreed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Current estimates for the extent of animal testing under the REACH legislation are 8-54 million animals over the next 10 years, a truly staggering figure. The BUAV hopes this statement will help chemical companies feel more confident about the acceptability of alternative methods as well as reiterating to them their obligation to avoid animal testing.

See press release