Animal Experiments
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made in strengthening UK guidance on adventitious agents testing.
Answered by Sarah Jones
The Government is committed to strengthening guidance on adventitious agents testing in due course, as set out in the strategy.
The use of animals in science in the UK continues to be regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which requires that animals are only used where there is no suitable validated non‑animal alternative, the minimum number of animals is used, and the most refined methods are used to minimise harm.
The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.
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