Yesterday I met with Animal Free Research UK to catch up on the work that they are conducting in order to accelerate the introduction of non-animal preclinical pharmaceutical testing methods.
Animal testing is a hugely emotive subject and one that continues to be poorly understood by many who take part in the conversation. I’ve stated previously that I do not support the use of animals in testing and continue to serve as an Officer in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Phasing out animal experiments in medical research. As the MP who has both the beagle-breeding facility, MBR Acres, and a testing facility, Labcorp, it is essential that I have a voice in the national discussion.
I recognise that current regulatory requirements and licensing mean that animals will still be used in animal testing for the foreseeable future for everything from life-saving and life-extending drugs through to weight-loss jabs and Botox; fatal to the animal subjects. We are still some way from the use of animals being entirely phased out and progress will be slow without a significant increase in funding. The Government’s new strategy is a move in the right direction but must be resourced if it is to make progress.
On Monday afternoon there is a debate in Parliament regarding animal testing that I will be speaking in. I will share my speech online thereafter.
