Millions of animals still used in British laboratories despite fall in testing, campaigners warn

More than 2.5 million animals were used in scientific procedures in Great Britain last year, prompting renewed calls for the Government to speed up plans to phase out animal testing.

New Home Office figures show there were 2,537,507 uses of animals in laboratories during 2025, a 4% fall compared with the previous year. While campaigners welcomed the slight reduction, they warned the pace of change remains "painfully slow" and could leave animal experiments continuing for decades unless ministers act more quickly.

Cruelty Free International has urged the Government to accelerate delivery of its strategy to replace animals in science with modern, non-animal alternatives, arguing that the transition is progressing far more slowly than promised.

The figures reveal that 1.32 million animals were used in experimental procedures during 2025, an 8% decrease on the previous year. However, the breeding and creation of genetically altered animals increased by 1% to 1.22 million, accounting for almost half of all animal use in British laboratories.

More than 439,000 animals were subjected to procedures classed by researchers as causing moderate or severe pain, suffering or distress, including long-term disease and, in some cases, death during experiments.

Dogs and monkeys both saw notable increases in use. Experiments involving dogs rose by 9% to 2,889, while the number of monkeys used increased by 15% to 2,236. Cat experiments also rose by 11% to 91, while the use of horses increased by 5% to 12,101.

Rabbits and guinea pigs were used less frequently, with rabbit experiments falling by 15% and guinea pig use dropping by 38%.

Mice continued to account for the overwhelming majority of laboratory animals, with around 1.8 million used during the year, alongside more than 126,000 rats.

Basic scientific research remained the largest area of animal experimentation, accounting for more than half of all experiments involving animals, while a further quarter were used in research aimed at developing treatments for disease.

There was more encouraging news in some areas. Animal use for chemical testing fell by 45%, while tests for eye irritation and corrosion were eliminated entirely during 2025. No animals were used to test ingredients used exclusively in cosmetic products.

However, Cruelty Free International said many outdated tests continue despite approved non-animal alternatives already being available. The charity says more than 80,000 animals each year could be spared through the abolition of tests that have already been replaced by modern scientific methods.

The organisation has also published an assessment of the Government's strategy six months after its launch, concluding that progress has so far been limited and that there is little evidence of the large-scale reforms needed to dramatically reduce animal use.

Dr Emma Grange, Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs at Cruelty Free International, said: "With 2.54 million uses of animals in British laboratories in 2025, a meagre 4% decrease from 2024, the rate of decline remains painfully slow.

"We ask that the Government now starts to show the sort of bold leadership and ambition promised in its strategy. A change in Prime Minister must be taken as an opportunity to boost delivery and speed up progress.

"Taking definitive action now could mean that this is one of the last years where the use of animals is anywhere near this level. The British public are ready for animal testing to end and, with a combination of political leadership and scientific development, this can be delivered.

"The focus must be on the transition to exclusive use of non-animal scientific methods, some of which have already been shown to perform at least as well, or better, than tests on animals. Any cruel animal test is one too many and we will continue to fight for zero animal experiments in Great Britain."