§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what grounds exemptions are granted for the use of dogs from non-designated breeders to be used in licensed procedures; [153272]
(2) what steps are taken to ensure that animal experiments by commercial pet food companies comply with section 5(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; [153275]
(3) how many exemptions were granted in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000 under section 10(3)(a)of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; [153270]
(4) if he will make a statement on how his Department monitors the conditions in which dogs are bred and reared in non-designated breeding establishments. [153273]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[holding answer 12 March 2001]: Dogs 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 problems in humans. Such work contributes to advances in human healthcare. 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 re-homing schemes in place for animals once tests have been completed.
Under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 dogs and cats can be used only where animals of no other species are suitable. Together with primates and horses, the overall use of these species represented less than 1 per cent, of the total animals used in scientific procedures in 1999,
The numbers of exemptions under section 10(3)(a), allowing the use of dogs and cats bred or obtained from non-designated breeding establishments in the last three years are:
- 1998: 7
- 1999: 7
- 2000: 40
Under section 10(3) of the Act, the non-availability of suitable animals from designated breeders is the only justification for such exemptions.
To comply with section 5(4) of the Act, any application to use protected animals in research must be subjected to a detailed cost/benefit assessment by Home Office inspectors. The likely adverse effects on the animals concerned must be weighed against the benefit likely to accrue as a result of the proposed programme of work. Such an assessment is applied to applications made by commercial pet food companies, as to any other. Information about the cost benefit assessment is set out in the paper by the chief inspector published as part of the Animal Procedures Committee annual report for 1997.
There is no authority under the 1986 Act to monitor conditions in non-designated breeding establishments.