Lyndsay Moss: Opponents of animal testing urged to rethink

Published on Wednesday 14 January 2009 21:58

TESTING on animals for the sake of advancing medicine will always be controversial.

No matter how well intentioned the researchers carrying out studies involving animals, campaigners will continue to protest against such testing with vigour.

But scientists have told The Scotsman that such protesters should be aware that their vocal opposition could ultimately lead to worse treatment of animals, as research is pushed overseas.

This could mean more testing in countries which care little for the welfare of the creatures they use.

It comes after David Martin, a Scottish MEP, called for a Europe-wide ban on using monkeys in research.

One scientist told The Scotsman: "We are using animals at the bare minimum. Many would say we have cut it too much already, and there is a risk that the research could be driven out of the UK to places like China and India.

"Those who protest against animal testing in the UK should be far more worried about this prospect, because it is likely their welfare will be more at risk in those countries than it is here."

Figures suggest that one in ten experiments involving monkeys in Europe takes place in Scotland.

The most likely reason for this is the large number of biomedical research facilities in Scotland, leading the way with such research.

But the scientific community is increasingly concerned by suggestions that animal research is pointless and does not lead to treatments for humans.

They point to examples such as the polio vaccine, which would never have been developed without the involvement of monkeys in the testing process.

Another scientist told The Scotsman: "It is wrong for people to say that scientists are using animals just for the sake of it.

"Regulation in this area in the UK is very, very high.

"Anything that is being done is done for a very good reason."