The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) reported today, September 24, that the use of animals for quality control in veterinary vaccines has decreased significantly over the past decade. The average number of animals required for testing a single batch of animal vaccine has dropped by 41%, from 29 in 2013 to 17 in 2024.
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Overall, animal use in veterinary vaccine testing fell by 29% during the same period, despite an increase in vaccine releases. This decline is attributed to advancements in science and changes in testing requirements, allowing for alternatives to animal testing while ensuring access to safe and effective vaccines for farmers, veterinarians, and pet owners.
The report highlights the removal of the routine Target Animal Batch Safety Test in 2013 as a pivotal moment, which has led to thousands fewer animals used each year. The necessity for certain animals—such as horses, cats, dogs, turkeys, and pigeons—in routine quality control testing has been eliminated, and new vaccines are increasingly employing animal-free methods.
Additionally, the proportion of veterinary vaccines requiring any form of animal testing in the UK market has fallen dramatically from 74% in 2013 to 34% in 2024. This progress aligns with the government’s commitment to reduce and eventually replace animal use in scientific testing, while still providing crucial vaccines that protect animal health and help prevent zoonotic diseases.
Defra Minister Baroness Hayman expressed approval of the progress made, emphasizing that fewer animals are used to ensure the safety and effectiveness of veterinary vaccines, which is a positive development for animal welfare.
Abi Seager, CEO of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, reiterated the organization's commitment to the government's aim of phasing out animal testing and highlighted the sustained progress made in reducing animal use within the veterinary medicines sector over the past twelve years.
However, it is noted that animal testing has not yet been fully replaced for all types of veterinary vaccines, particularly for some clostridial and fish vaccines, where developing viable alternatives remains a complex challenge. Ongoing collaboration among scientists, regulators, and the veterinary medicine industry aims to foster new approaches that minimize animal use without compromising safety or effectiveness.
This announcement coincides with the UK government’s strategy for phasing out animal testing, which is outlined in their 2025 plan.