Animal testing in the UK is set to be phased out more rapidly under a new government strategy designed to deliver on its manifesto commitment to replace animal use in science where reliable alternatives exist.
Announced by Science Minister Lord Vallance on Tuesday, the roadmap includes specific targets for reducing animal testing in the coming years and a £75 million investment package to accelerate the development and validation of non-animal technologies.
The plan, jointly developed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and the Home Office, was described by life sciences and animal welfare groups as “ambitious” and “timely.”
The new strategy commits to ending regulatory animal tests for skin and eye irritation and sensitisation by 2026, and phasing out mouse-based potency testing for botox and switching to DNA-based lab methods for virus detection in human medicines by 2027.
By 2030, it aims to reduce pharmacokinetic studies on dogs and non-human primates that assess how drugs move through the body.
The plan will support scientists developing next-generation testing technologies, such as organ-on-a-chip systems that replicate human organ functions, artificial intelligence to model molecular interactions, and 3D bioprinted human tissues for realistic toxicology testing.
Lord Vallance said: “Nobody in our country of animal lovers wants to see suffering and our plan will support work to end animal testing wherever possible and roll out alternatives as soon as it is safe and effective to do so.”
The £75 million funding includes £60 million to establish a new data and innovation hub connecting researchers, regulators, and industry, and £15.9 million from the Medical Research Council, Innovate UK, and the Wellcome Trust to advance “human in vitro” models across diseases such as cancer, liver and brain disorders, and pain.
Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman said the roadmap “harnesses our scientific excellence to deliver real benefits for animal welfare while advancing research that improves lives.”
The government’s strategy will be overseen by a new committee chaired by Lord Vallance, coordinating regulators, funders, and departments. It will also introduce researcher training in non-animal methods from 2026 and publish research priorities every two years.
Industry and academic bodies have welcomed the initiative. The Royal Society of Biology called it “a science-led approach” balancing innovation with ethics, while the Association of Medical Research Charities said it provided “a clear focus on removing barriers and enabling data-driven innovation.”
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