The average number of animals used to assess a single batch of veterinary vaccine has fallen from 29 in 2013 to 17 in 2024, according to figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The reduction represents a 41% decrease in animals used for batch quality control. Defra said overall animal use in the process fell by 29% over the same period, despite an increase in the number of veterinary vaccines being released.
The figures cover checks intended to establish the quality, safety and effectiveness of veterinary vaccines before they reach the UK market. They show that the proportion of veterinary vaccines released in the UK that required any animal testing as part of quality control declined from 74% to 34% between 2013 and 2024.
Alternative methods replace some testing
Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) attributed the change to advances in science and amendments to testing requirements. The removal of the Target Animal Batch Safety Test in 2013 was identified as a major factor in reducing the number of animals used each year.
“This is real progress for animal welfare, we are using far fewer animals to make sure veterinary vaccines are safe and effective, which is welcome news for animal lovers across the country, including myself. Better science means we can reduce animal testing, while still giving farmers, vets and pet owners the vaccines they rely on to keep animals healthy and stop disease spreading.”
That assessment was given by biosecurity minister Baroness Hayman. Her comments linked the reduction in testing with the continuing need for vaccines used by farmers and veterinary practices to maintain animal health and limit the spread of disease.
According to the figures, cats, dogs, horses, turkeys and pigeons are no longer needed for routine quality-control testing. However, Defra’s report also indicates that replacing animal tests is not equally straightforward for every vaccine category.
- The average use per veterinary vaccine batch fell from 29 animals in 2013 to 17 in 2024.
- Total animal use declined by 29% over the same period.
- The share of veterinary vaccines requiring animal testing fell from 74% to 34%.
- Alternative methods remain challenging for some clostridial and fish vaccines.
Further reductions remain an objective
Some clostridial and fish vaccines were identified as areas where developing suitable alternatives remains difficult. The figures therefore show progress across the quality-control system, rather than the complete removal of animal testing from veterinary vaccine manufacture and release.
VMD chief executive Abi Seager said the organisation supported the Government’s ambition to phase out the use of animals in scientific testing. She described the report as evidence of sustained and measurable progress over the 12 years covered by the figures.
For livestock keepers, the report concerns the regulatory testing of vaccines rather than the vaccination of animals on farms. Its significance is the development of methods that can reduce animal use while retaining the checks required before veterinary vaccines are supplied for use by farmers, vets and other animal owners.
