§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) under which categories his Department's annual statistics are recorded for(a) palatability trials, (b) digestibility trials, (c) faeces screening studies and (d) other tests carried out by commercial pet food companies; [153274]
(2) how many dogs from non-designated breeders were used in licensed procedures at designated scientific establishments in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [153271]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienDogs are primarily used in pharmaceutical research and development, or in pharmaceutical safety and efficacy evaluations. They are also used, when no other species is suitable, in the evaluation of cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory 495W problems in humans. Such work contributes to advances in human health care. Dogs are also used in the development of veterinary medicines and techniques.
The work undertaken by commercial pet food companies is for the purpose of ensuring that food products for pets are safe, effective and nutritionally complete. Most of the procedures conducted are so mild as to not require licensed authority. The procedures which come under licence are very mild. There are pet rehoming schemes in place for animals once tests have been completed. If these procedures were not carried out we would be less aware of the risk to household pets.
The number of procedures using dogs obtained from non-designated sources in 1998 and 1999 is given in table 2 in the annual publication "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain", copies of which are in the Library. It is not possible to give the actual number of dogs so obtained but it is likely to be close to the number of procedures referred to above. Figures for the year 2000 are not yet available.
Not all of the studies referred to in this question would necessarily be regulated procedures, depending on the design of the study. Where they are regulated they would normally be returned as nutrition studies, which are shown in table 5 of the annual publication "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain", copies of which are in the Library. It is not possible to isolate work done by commercial pet food companies from other licencees carrying out research into nutrition.