Focus on severe suffering

“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

What causes it?

How can we reduce it?

10%

of animals used in experiments worldwide experience 'severe' suffering*

10 million

animals across the world experience severe suffering each year*

1 million

procedures involving severe suffering each year within the UK and EU**

*estimate
**based on latest available data

Progress so far

68% reduction

in experimental procedures causing severe suffering in the UK since 2014

The content of this website is relevant for:

Scientists

Reducing severe suffering would be impossible without support and information from scientists in relevant fields. Sharing information about refinement, within publications, presentations and by sitting on expert working groups, will increase your research impact and help to ensure better science and animal welfare – in your own field and others.

Animal technologists and veterinariains

Animal technologists and veterinarians are integral to the success of strategies to reduce suffering. You should be heavily involved in identifying new approaches to refinement and welfare assessment, as well as caring for animals and assessing their welfare on a day to day basis.

Members of ethics or animal care and use committees

Several of the AWERB’s tasks are directly relevant to tackling severe suffering, for example those relating to advising on the application of the Three Rs; advising on matters relating to animal welfare; following the development and outcome of projects; and supporting named persons and other staff.

Regulators

Whether you are involved in evaluating or authorising projects using animals, or inspecting facilities using lab animals, or are part of a body setting out safety or efficacy testing requirements related to the marketing authorisation of products such as medicines, vaccines, chemicals or consumer products – you can use this website to help reduce and avoid severe suffering.