Views On The Use Of Animals In Scientific Research
This survey evaluates attitudes toward animal experimentation among British 15 years and older. Overall, most respondents accept some animal testing on some conditions. Those who support animal experimentation specifically for medical research fell from 76% to 66% between 2010 and 2012. Overall, there is a trend of less acceptance for animal experimentation.
Executive Summary:
“This is the latest in a series of studies carried out since 1999 to gauge public views on the use of animals in scientific research.
To ensure comparability, all waves of the research have been conducted using nationally-representative face-to-face ‘omnibus’ surveys. In the latest wave (conducted on Ipsos MORI’s weekly ‘Capibus’), 1,026 adults from across Great Britain aged 15+ were interviewed in-home from 31 March – 8 April 2012. The data have been weighted by gender, age, region, and social class, to reflect the known 15+ population profile of Great Britain.”
“Over four-fifths (85%) are ‘conditional acceptors’ of the use of animals in scientific research (i.e. they agree with at least 1 of 4 statements regarding the use of animals in scientific research for medical purposes and/or under high welfare conditions), five percentage points down on 2010. Specifically, two-thirds (66%) support the use of animals in research as long as it is for medical research purposes (down from 76% in 2010). Of the remaining third (34%), 16% disagree and 13% say they neither agree or disagree.”
“Unconditional acceptance (i.e. those who agree with one or both of the following statements “It does not bother me if animals are used in experimentation” and “I agree with animal experimentation for all types of research where there is no alternative”), has also fallen (by five percentage points to 55%), whilst the proportion of objectors those who agree with one or both of the following statements “I do not support the use of animals in any experimentation because of the importance I place on animal welfare and “The Government should ban all experiments on animals for any form of research”) has risen steadily since 2006 (and now stands at 37%).”
“A fifth (21%) agree that ‘the Government should ban all experiments on animals for any form of research’, and a third (32%) cannot support animal research due to the importance they place on animal welfare. These statements have seen small increases since 2010.
A significant proportion (40%) of those sampled would like to know more about animal experimentation before they form a firm opinion.”
“Over half (54%) trust the Government’s inspectorate and a similar proportion (53%) believe that Britain probably has tough rules in place to govern animal experimentation.
However, trust has fallen in 2012; a significant proportion lack trust in the regulatory system around animal experimentation (43%) which is higher than in 2010. Many still would not be surprised if experimentation went on behind closed doors (64%).”
“In 2004 the Government set up the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) to support science, innovation and animal welfare. In 2012, two-thirds (66%) are not aware that such an organisation exists. Three-quarters (76%) agree there needs to be more research into alternatives to animal research and around a half (48%) would be interested in finding out more about alternatives.”