Animal testing report reveals Brussels still conducting 'severe' experiments

Laboratories in Brussels are still conducting scientific tests on rats, mice, guinea pigs, zebra fish, pigs, sheep, chickens and frogs, according to statistics from the Brussels Environment Agency.

An estimated 50,922 animals were used for scientific tests in the Brussels region in 2023, according to the analysis done by the SEA association, which calls for an end to animal experiments.

Mice were the most common test subjects, followed by guinea pigs, zebrafish and rats. Experiments were carried out in basic research (69.8% of cases); for regulatory use and routine production, such as toxicity and safety tests (17.97%); and in translational and applied research, in particular to develop products (15.9%).

So-called "severe" experiments, which cause great suffering and may result in death, were carried out on 9,831 animals, compared with 10,314 in 2022.

The SEA association also deplored the deaths of more than 94,000 animals that were bred for scientific procedures, but were killed or died without having been used.

Brussels Environment reports that 92.78% of the animals that died before being used were mice, with the remainder being zebrafish, rats or frogs. The number of dead animals is down compared with 2022, from 133,963 to 94,394.

The SEA. criticised the fact that only a third of laboratories were inspected in 2023 and condemned "the waste of animal lives and the suffering inflicted on animals".

The association is calling for more regular and unannounced checks, as well as more severe penalties for violations. It is also calling for the disappearance of "tests such as forced swimming, drug addiction tests and cigarette smoke inhalation tests".