Why we work to end animal experimentation
Internationally, a notable and encouraging shift is underway towards replacing and ultimately phasing out animal experimentation.
While we still have a long way to go, it’s worth recognising the exciting trend that NZAVS and its thousands of supporters are a part of.
Together, we are contributing to this global shift towards using more predictive, ethical, and effective methods for advancing scientific knowledge!
Regularly, new animal-free methods are created, and existing methods are further developed or validated, while critical reviews highlighting the benefits of the new technology and the flaws of animal experimentation also receive more and more attention.
Key steps that have been taken internationally to end animal experimentation:
- A growing recognition among scientists of the limitations of animal models in accurately predicting human responses.
- Key policy changes that remove outdated requirements for animal tests, mandate the use of non-animal methods where possible and encourage the replacement of animal use for science.
- Funding for advancements in animal-free methods.
- International collaborations among scientists, regulatory bodies, and advocacy groups fostering the development and validation of innovative techniques.
- The creation of specialised centres for the replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal use. Here, knowledge, news and funding opportunities regarding non-animal methods can be found, and international projects can be coordinated.
Bans on Animal Experimentation
Cosmetics testing
According to the Humane Society, there are currently 45 countries prohibiting cosmetics testing on animals.1
Examples include:
- The EU (27 countries) banned the testing of finished cosmetic products on animals in 2004, and in 2009 the testing of ingredients for cosmetics,2 followed in March 2013 by the ban on the sale of cosmetics that had been tested in animals.3
- Israel banned the testing of cosmetics on animals in 1994, with some exceptions.4 The ban on the import, sale, and marketing of cosmetics that were tested on animals came into force gradually.5
- Animal testing for cosmetics and sale of such products were banned in Norway in 2006, effective from 2009.6
- India banned animal testing for cosmetics in 2013, and the import of such products in 2014.7
- Türkiye prohibited animal testing for cosmetics in 2015 under the Cosmetics Regulation.8
- Ecuador established a prohibition of testing cosmetics on animals in 2017, coming into effect a year later.9
- Taiwan banned cosmetic animal testing in 2018, coming into effect a year later.10
- South Korea introduced a ban on animal testing for cosmetics and sale of animal-tested cosmetics that came into force in 2018.11
- Australia, after having had several states ban it, passed legislation banning animal testing data to be used for cosmetics in 2020.12
- Mexico prohibited the testing of cosmetic products or their ingredients on animals, as well as the import of such products (with exceptions) in 2022.13
- A Colombian law, signed in 2020, will come into effect in 2024, prohibiting cosmetic testing on animals.14
- Canada passed the prohibition of animal testing for cosmetics in 2023. As of 2024, Canada prohibits animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of such cosmetics.15
- Brazil passed a resolution in 2023 to ban testing of personal hygiene products, cosmetics and perfumes on animals, given the ingredients are already known or alternative methods are available.16
- The USA do not have country-wide bans in place, but several states within do. For example, New Jersey banned cosmetics testing in 2007, with exceptions,17 and California banned cosmetics testing18 given there is “an appropriate alternative test method” in 2018. Most recently, Oregon joined in, banning the sale of cosmetics that were developed using animal testing from January 2024.19
Dissection Bans and other Teaching Restrictions
Germany’s Animal Protection Law permits experimentation with live animals only at higher education institutions (not in schools).20
In Belgium, there are guidelines against the use of animal dissections; these guidelines recommend that it should be respected if anyone (including teachers) doesn’t want to dissect animals.21 In 2008. a national agreement was set up between the Education and Training Department of the Flemish Community and an animal rights group called Gaia; this agreement encourages the use of alternatives instead of animal dissections.22
India banned the dissection of animals in zoology and life sciences university courses in 2014.23 Specifically, the Indian University Grants Commission has directed all universities to stop the dissection of animals at undergraduate and postgraduate levels24 and published a guideline on how they should approach this.25
In April 2019, Brazil implemented a partial ban on animal use for education purposes. The use of animals in many practical classes at the undergraduate level and high school technical education is now prohibited. The ban refers to student practical classes for knowledge acquisition, and it is understood that this applies to practical classes within anatomy, pathology, physiology, and pharmacology at these levels. This means that it is illegal to use animal dissections to teach students about different anatomical structures at this level.26
South Korea updated its Animal Protection Act, prohibiting dissection of vertebrate animals (including body parts) by minors. The update came into effect in June 2025.27
In 1993, the Italian parliament passed a law that grants the right of any citizen to refuse to participate in any form of animal experimentation without penalty.28
A law change in Pakistan includes banning live animal procedures in veterinary schools and the shooting of some animals. Salman Sufi, head of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s strategic reforms unit, said that the law would be enacted in Islamabad, and the federal government would encourage the provinces to implement it. A comprehensive law was said to be tabled in the next session of parliament, but we could not find any confirmation on that.29
Complete or partial bans on animal testing
San Marino passed Law no 108 in 2007, prohibiting all forms of animal experimentation in the small country.30
The OECD has deleted their guideline for the LD50 test, in 2002.31 This notorious oral toxicity test was used to determine the dose of a substance that killed 50% of the test animals. They are also continuously adding more animal-free methods to their guidelines.32
The Taiwanese FDA announced in February 2022 to forbid animal testing to prove blood pressure effects of Health Foods.33
Pakistan banned live testing on animals in vet colleges and industrial complexes in their capital city region (Islamabad Capital Territory) in 2022.34
California banned toxicology tests on dogs and cats in 2022.35
While not yet banning animal experimentation, the U.S. government is now allowing research and development of new drugs to base their applications on alternative methods.36 So, while this is only one little step, at least scientists now have the option to steer clear of animal testing and use more human-relevant methods. Additionally, the FDA released a roapmap in 2025 with the clear goal of phasing out animal use for drug testing in the U.S.37
Phasing-out legislation
The U.S. Toxic Substance Control Act, the Food and Drug Amendments, and the FDA Modernization Act (both included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act38) replace “animal tests” with “nonclinical tests”, respectively.
The EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes explicitly marks the “full replacement of procedures on live animals for scientific and educational purposes as soon as it is scientifically possible” as the ultimate goal.39
The UK Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (ASPA) requires researchers to ensure, to the greatest extent, the use of non-animal methods to achieve scientific objectives wherever possible. Even licenses granted can be revoked if new technology becomes available.40
Funding Animal-Free Research
The international scientific community is beginning to treat the replacement of animals used in science seriously, and the field is gaining traction rapidly.
The global non-animal alternatives Testing Market is growing at an estimated 11.3% per year and is forecast to reach 4.08 billion USD (6.8 billion NZD) by 2029.41
With a projected annual growth rate of 42.09%, the organ-on-a-chip market can reach close to 3.6 billion US-dollars (~6 billion NZD) in global revenue by 2033.42
Many countries are investing in replacing and reducing animal use for science and, in some cases, rehoming these animals.
Examples include:
- The New South Wales Government of Australia launched a 7 million AUD (~ 7.4 NZD) fund in 2023, targeting animals used in science. Of this, 4.5 million AUD will be directed towards replacing and reducing the use of animals in science, while the remaining 2.5 million AUD will go towards existing animals needing to be rehomed.43
- The European Union spends over 40 million Euros (over 70 million NZD) annually on replacement research.44
- In the United States, specific institutions play a role. The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing has to date invested over 6 million USD (~ 10 million NZD) in over 300 replacement grants. In the 2022/23 period, they have awarded two grants, both relating to organ-on-a-chip technology.45
- The Swiss National Science Foundation is funding a 3Rs National Research Programme called “Advancing 3R – Animals, Research and Society” (NRP 79). It aims to promote innovative ideas and constructive approaches for solving problems regarding animal experiments and their legitimacy. Through the National Science Foundation, the Swiss government is funding the programme with 20 million CHF (over 40 million NZD).46
More and more countries are investing in a reference centre, a national network or a committee set up to promote and advance the replacement of animals in research.
Examples include:
The European Union has several hubs of research and information around the replacement of animal experimentation:
- The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) is part of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the science and knowledge service of the European Commission.47
- The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) is an international committee consisting of five Directorates-General of the European Commission, 38 companies, and eight European industry federations. EPAA is pooling knowledge and resources to accelerate the development, validation and acceptance of alternative approaches at national, European and global levels.48
- On the European Consensus-Platform for Alternatives (ECOPA), information on methods, legislation, and other useful links are stored.49
In the UK, Replacing Animal Research (formerly the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments, FRAME) is the oldest centre for excellence in alternative research. It funds the FRAME Alternatives Laboratory, a studentship and an innovation program. They also share information and actively promote uptake of non-animal methods through the ATLA Journal as well as education and training programs.50
The U.S. Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) supports the development and evaluation of alternative methods to identify potential hazards to human health and the environment under management of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NICEATM is also part of theinternational Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM).51
In Canada, the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (CCAAM) and the Canadian Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (CaCVAM) aim to develop, validate, and promote non-animal, human biology-based platforms in biomedical research, education, and chemical safety testing.52 The centre was closed in 2024 due to lack of sufficient funding.53
Ukraine has also opened a 3Rs Centre in 2020, working to advance Replacement where possible.54
Luxembourg and Poland are among the countries currently working on the establishment of a 3Rs Centre.55
