Supporting information
RSPCA views
The RSPCA is deeply concerned about the animals that are used to test vaccines and is working on a number of initiatives that aim to reduce the numbers of animals used and the suffering that they experience.
In order to be able to reduce the numbers of animals used in animal experiments it is important to understand what creates the 'demand' for their use.
One example is the widespread use of vaccines for both humans and other animals. Vaccination protects millions of people each year against diseases such as tetanus, tuberculosis, polio and diphtheria. Animals kept as companions or on farms are also routinely given vaccinations against common, often live-threatening, diseases such as canine distemper, rabies or pneumonia. The RSPCA encourages vaccination of animals as it can have tremendous benefits for their health and welfare, yet vaccines cannot be used until they have been subjected to a whole series of tests. Many of these tests are carried out on animals and can cause them considerable suffering. This presents a serious ethical dilemma for the RSPCA and for caring animal owners.
It is a legal requirement that each batch of vaccine is assessed to ensure it is safe and effective before it can be used. It is estimated that around 1.5 million animals are used in the EU each year for these purposes. Clearly, alternative methods of testing that do not involve the use of animals are urgently needed, but many different products are made and each requires a different test, so progress in developing these is slow.
The RSPCA was represented on a working party of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, which investigated The use of animals in the testing of vaccines for humans. The resulting report summarises the legal requirements and procedures for testing and sets out strategies for applying the 3Rs and barriers to the implementation of alternatives. It also makes recommendations on providing information on animal use, avoiding duplicate testing, encouraging research on alternatives, and accelerating regulatory acceptance of new methods.
More recently the RSPCA has produced our own technical report Advancing animal welfare and the 3Rs in the batch testing of veterinary vaccines. The report is aimed at regulators, policy makers and vaccine manufacturers and takes a critical look at testing requirements for veterinary vaccines. Its recommendations will have a significant impact on the numbers and suffering of animals used if they are taken forward by the relevant bodies. For example, the report recommends that particular tests should be discontinued; that the process of incorporating more humane tests into the regulations is speeded up; and that research efforts should focus on replacing or modifying tests that involve lethal infectious disease agents, to reduce the suffering of those animals involved. The Society will be urging regulators and industry to make the necessary changes so that these recommendations can be taken forward.