Cecily Zamora
Animal testing laws in the UK are considered some of the strictest in the world. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (ASPA) of 1986 forms the basis of animal research regulation in the UK, with the term 'procedure' referring to any act that may cause an animal distress or suffering. In 2013, ASPA was revised to include EU Directive 2010/63/EU, which aimed to improve animal welfare standards in scientific research across EU member states. This directive prioritised the 3Rs: reduction, refinement, and replacement of animals in research. The UK has also implemented independent legislation, such as REACH, which concerns the regulation and evaluation of chemicals, and requires animal testing to ensure safety. While bans exist to prevent testing finished cosmetic products on animals, there is ongoing controversy regarding the UK government's decision to abandon the ban on testing cosmetic ingredients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of implementation | 1986 |
| Name of the act | Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (ASPA) |
| Minimum legal standards | Housing and care of animals bred, supplied or used for scientific purposes |
| Licence types | Establishment, project, personal |
| Who grants the licences? | The Home Office |
| Who is protected under the law? | All living vertebrates including mice, rats and other rodents, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and more |
| Who is specially protected under the law? | Horses, cats, dogs, and non-human primates |
| Who is not protected under the law? | Invertebrate animals such as fruit flies and worms |
| When is animal testing allowed? | When there is no alternative non-animal method available, and the expected benefits outweigh any potential animal suffering |
| When is animal testing banned? | Testing of finished household products, cosmetic products, and cosmetic ingredients |
| When is animal testing required? | When testing pesticides and chemicals |
| Who decides if animal testing is required? | The Home Secretary |
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What You'll Learn
Animal testing for cosmetics
Animal testing for cosmetic products and their ingredients was banned in the UK in 1998 and across the EU in 2013. The UK was the first country to implement such a ban. The EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, which came into force in 2013, prohibits the sale and marketing of cosmetic products tested on animals. This regulation was replicated in UK law upon its exit from the EU in January 2021.
Despite this ban, animal testing for cosmetic ingredients can still be mandatory under certain regulations, such as the REACH regulation, which governs the safety of chemicals across all industries. The REACH regulation requires companies to conduct animal tests as a '
In May 2023, the UK government won a court case allowing tests on animals for cosmetics under UK chemicals laws, causing public outrage. Soon after, the government announced it would not issue new animal testing licences, and in November 2023, it was confirmed that testing had ended under all remaining legacy licences. This progress is expected to impact thousands of animals, including rabbits, mice, and other species.
The push towards non-animal testing alternatives will define the future of cosmetics safety assessments, balancing ethical considerations with regulatory compliance. Organisations like PETA and Cruelty Free International have played a significant role in campaigning against animal testing for cosmetics and advocating for the protection of animals.
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Animal testing requirements
ASPA outlines the minimum legal standards for the housing and care of animals used for scientific purposes, with additional guidance provided on improving animal welfare. The Home Office licenses all scientific procedures under ASPA, which covers any act that may cause an animal pain, suffering, or distress equivalent to or greater than the insertion of a hypodermic needle.
To conduct animal testing in the UK, three types of licenses are required: an establishment license, a project license, and a personal license. The establishment license ensures that research institutes or companies have appropriate animal accommodation and veterinary facilities. The project license is granted for a specific research or testing program, and the personal license is for the individual conducting the experiment, ensuring they have sufficient training, skills, and experience.
There are additional requirements and regulations for specific areas of animal testing. For instance, REACH legislation, which exists in UK and EU law, concerns the registration, evaluation, authorisation, and restriction of chemicals. While animal testing is required under REACH for ensuring safety, it should only be conducted when no alternative methods are available, and data sharing is encouraged to avoid unnecessary testing.
The UK also has specific requirements for testing new drugs, where preclinical tests must be conducted on two species: a rodent (usually mice or rats) and a non-rodent (such as dogs, pigs, or non-human primates).
Overall, the UK has strict regulations and requirements for animal testing, with an emphasis on reducing, refining, and replacing animal use in research whenever possible.
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Animal research regulations
ASPA outlines that animal research can only be conducted when three licences have been granted: a personal licence for the researcher, a project licence for the experiment, and an establishment licence for the institution. The Home Office is responsible for granting these licences and enforcing compliance with ASPA. All licensed establishments must have a PEL holder or Named Person Responsible for Compliance, who ensures adherence to the licence conditions.
The law requires that animal testing must be justified when non-animal alternative methods are available, and the expected benefits of the research must outweigh any potential animal suffering. This assessment is based on ethical considerations and the potential advantages to humans, animals, or the environment.
In terms of housing and care, ASPA sets out minimum legal standards for animals used in scientific research. It also provides non-mandatory advice to encourage institutions to improve their standards of housing and care continuously.
REACH is another piece of legislation that governs animal testing independently in UK and EU law concerning the registration, evaluation, authorisation, and restriction of chemicals. While animal testing is required under REACH for safety reasons, it emphasises the minimisation of animal use, prioritising data sharing to avoid unnecessary testing.
Despite these regulations, there have been concerns about the UK government's recent decisions. Notably, the Home Office has faced criticism for allowing animal testing for cosmetics, reversing a longstanding ban, and granting licences based solely on scientific requirements without considering the level of animal suffering involved.
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Animal testing licences
Animal testing in the UK is governed by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, or ASPA. The UK is widely regarded as having some of the strictest animal research regulations in the world.
ASPA was amended in 2013 to include the EU Directive 2010/63/EU, which aimed to improve animal welfare standards in scientific research across EU member states. Following the UK's departure from the EU in 2021, this directive was transposed into UK law.
The Home Office licenses all scientific procedures under ASPA, which defines a procedure as any act that may cause an animal a level of pain, suffering, or distress equivalent to or greater than the introduction of a hypodermic needle.
Three types of licences are required for animal research or testing:
- Establishment Licence: Research institutes or companies must have appropriate animal accommodation and veterinary facilities and have been granted an establishment licence.
- Project Licence: Research can only be done as part of an approved research or testing programme that has been granted a project licence.
- Personal Licence: Research can only be carried out by people with sufficient training, skills, and experience, as demonstrated by their personal licence.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is responsible for issuing licences for animal testing. The process typically involves submitting a detailed application, including information on the proposed experiments, animal welfare considerations, and ethical review.
It is important to note that animal testing for cosmetic products and their ingredients was banned in the UK in 1998. However, there have been recent developments, including a Judicial Review, challenging the Home Office's decision to abandon this ban. The outcome of this review is pending.
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Animal welfare standards
Animal testing laws in the UK are widely regarded as some of the strictest in the world. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (ASPA), introduced in 1986, forms the basis of animal research regulation in the UK.
ASPA was revised in 2013 to include the EU Directive 2010/63/EU, which aimed to improve animal welfare standards in science across EU member states. The Medical Research Council (MRC) contributed to the integration of this directive into UK law, prioritising the 3Rs: reduction, refinement, and replacement of animals in research.
The Home Office licenses all scientific procedures under ASPA, which covers any act that may cause an animal pain, suffering, or distress equivalent to or greater than the introduction of a hypodermic needle. Research can only be undertaken when three licenses are granted: a personal license for the individual conducting the experiment, a project license, and an establishment license for the institution.
ASPA sets out minimum legal standards for the housing and care of animals used for scientific purposes. It also provides guidance on humane killing and severity classifications. The Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer is responsible for overseeing the care and welfare of animals in licensed establishments.
In terms of specific regulations, animal testing for cosmetics and their ingredients has been banned in the UK since 1998. The testing of finished household products is also prohibited under ASPA. Animal testing is required under REACH legislation to ensure chemical safety, but non-animal methods are prioritised, and data sharing is encouraged to avoid unnecessary testing.
Additionally, all new drugs in the UK must be tested on two species during preclinical tests: a rodent and a non-rodent. However, it is illegal to conduct vertebrate animal tests when validated non-animal methods are available, and previous test data must be shared to avoid repetition.
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Frequently asked questions
ASPA stands for the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. It was introduced in 1986 and was revised in 2013 to include the EU Directive 2010/63/EU, which aimed to improve the welfare standards of animals in science across EU member states.
ASPA states that animal testing can only take place in research institutes or companies with appropriate animal accommodation and veterinary facilities, and that have been granted an establishment licence. It also states that research can only be done as part of an approved research or testing programme that has been given a project licence, and by people with sufficient training, skills and experience as shown in their personal licence.
Not following the correct procedure can result in enforcement action due to a breach of the law. This can range from a fine to criminal prosecution.
All living vertebrates are protected by the law, including those commonly used in scientific procedures such as mice, rats, and other rodents, as well as fish. Horses, cats, dogs and non-human primates are specially protected under ASPA. Invertebrates such as fruit flies and worms are not protected by the law.
Animal testing for finished cosmetic products and their ingredients has been banned in the UK since 1998. There is also a ban on testing finished household products on animals.
