UAR commented on an unbalanced and factually incorrect article published last week about a Welsh animal rights organisation. While UAR is not a lobby group - we are a non-profit advocacy organisation - we appreciate that they have published an updated version of this piece containing evidence-based information on animal research in the UK.
"The group Wales Against Animal Experiments argues there is no need to experiment on animals and that alternative research methods are preferable.
But Chris Magee, head of policy and media for Understanding Animal Research, said: 'People in Wales do not, in fact, oppose animal testing. A minority (about 40%) strongly support measures to develop alternatives to animals and gradually phase out animal use. However, their view is generally more intelligent and nuanced, and with polls it can be all about how you ask the question. Once they understand what they’d lose – like Covid vaccines and cancer drugs – then 79% find it acceptable. Generally, people are opposed – if they are opposed – to what they incorrectly think animal testing is and almost everyone agrees that animals should only be used where there is no alternative.'
'There is nobody arguing for animal use where there is an alternative,' Magee explains. 'There are people who can find it acceptable to prevent greater suffering, and that’s the context in which animals are used in Wales. In fact, those who do animal experiments are the world’s biggest investors in non-animal technologies – we understand perfectly well what they can and, crucially, cannot do.'"