Any level of suffering is obviously a concern for everyone, but tackling severe suffering should be a top priority.
Dr Penny Hawkins, RSPCA
What is ‘Severe’ Suffering?
Within the UK and the European Union, ‘severe’ procedures are those where animals used in science are likely to experience:
- severe pain, suffering or distress
- long-lasting moderate pain, suffering or distress, or
- severe impairment to their wellbeing or general condition
%
of animals used in experiments worldwide experience ‘severe’ suffering
animals across the world experience severe suffering each year
procedures involving severe suffering each year within UK and EU
Progress So Far
61%
Reduction
IN EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES CAUSING SEVERE SUFFERING IN THE UK Since 2014
The Content of this website is relevant for:
THE ROADMAP TO REDUCING SEVERE SUFFERING
Culture
Analysis
Evaluation
Identify
Issues
Issues
Overcome
Obstacles
Obstacles
Practical aspect
Reports

Avoiding mortality

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Rheumatoid arthritis

Seizures, convulsions and epilepsy

Sepsis

Spinal cord injury

Cardiovascular research

Neuropathic pain

Latest
The UK Home Office has released the latest figures detailing the number of severe procedures conducted on animals in research and testing in 2022.

Ethics
Procedures that can cause severe suffering are of particular concern and the justification for using these deserves special scrutiny.
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