End lethal animal testing – a century of cruelty

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Ask our government decision-makers to adopt improved non-animal approaches and end lethal animal testing.

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In 1927, scientists first introduced the “lethal dose” test to determine the amount of a substance that would kill 50% of animals. While the test’s name and procedures have been modified over the years, all versions still involve forcibly dosing animals by mouth, skin, inhalation or other route until animals are dead or dying. These crude and cruel tests have become embedded in government testing requirements for chemicals, pesticides and other products in many countries—resulting in extreme suffering for untold thousands of rats, mice, rabbits, fish, birds and other animals each year. Science has come a long way in the past century and it’s time regulations caught up.

Humane World for Animals is urging government decision-makers in major economies including Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, South Korea and the U.S. to adopt improved non-animal approaches to this test.

After nearly 100 years of cruelty, lethal dose testing belongs in the history books.

Your message
Subject: Support an end to lethal dose animal testing
To:

Jessika Roswall, the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
Kristin SCHREIBER, Director for Chemicals, Health, Retail and Agrifood, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), European Commission
Veronica MANFREDI, Director for Zero Pollution, Water Resilience & Green Urban Transition, Directorate-General for Environment (DG-ENV), European Commission

Over the past century, lethal animal poisoning tests, first developed in 1927, have become embedded in regulatory frameworks for drugs, pesticides, chemicals and other products worldwide. In some cases, the same chemical or product may be tested multiple ways and in multiple species. These crude, dated and highly variable experiments are among the most inhumane and least reliable procedures still in use and are ethically unacceptable in light of available non-animal approaches, including computer models, cell-based tests and waivers. These methods, where applicable, not only spare animals but are faster, cheaper and offer equivalent protection to human health and environmental safety.

Building on the 1.2 million-strong European Citizens Initiative "Commit to a Europe Without Animal Testing," I urge you to take swift action to phase out lethal dose testing under EU regulatory frameworks for chemicals, biocidal products, plant protection products, and classification, labelling and packaging, by:

Adopting animal-free methods as the primary requirement for acute oral, dermal and fish toxicity testing.
Removing references to live animal use for acute toxicity tests from regulations and guidelines, making clear that non-animal methods should be used.
Providing in the forthcoming Commission roadmap for accelerated development and uptake of modern, non-animal methods for acute toxicity estimation by inhalation and other routes.
Actively supporting international harmonisation efforts to ensure consistency in implementation across global regulatory frameworks.

After nearly 100 years, lethal dose testing belongs in the history books. Modern science offers a better way – one that protects people and the planet without inflicting suffering and death on animals.

Sincerely.

We are Humane World for Animals

For over 70 years, Humane World for Animals—formerly Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International—has worked to tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering and create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, we’re focused creating long-term solutions to the biggest problems facing animals, working to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. We work across borders to shift human behavior and drive policy change, bring diverse expertise to the most complex issues, and do it all with a compassionate and welcoming approach. Driving for the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name.

Your action supports Humane World for Animals Europe (formerly Humane Society International/Europe). Humane World for Animals Europe is an Association without a lucrative purpose governed by the Act of June 27, 1921, based in Rue Belliard 40, 1040 Brussels, recorded at the Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises with the registration number 0562.718.279.

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