Drop attributed to closures during Covid-19 pandemic and scientific advances
The number of scientific procedures carried out on live animals in Britain has reached its lowest level since 2004, with many studies put on hold due to the pandemic, Home Office statistics have revealed.
The department’s annual statistics show that 2.88 million procedures involving live animals were carried out in England, Scotland and Wales in 2020, a decrease of 15 per cent on the previous year and the lowest number of procedures since 2004.