Our insensitivity toward animals and the belief that human beings are the masters and owners of everything on the planet have led us to use animals in many ways. To work, to hunt, to defend ourselves, to feed ourselves… and also to experiment.
Scientific experimentation on animals has been carried out since even before what we know as modern medicine came into existence. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, in 2015 mice were the animals most used in experiments in Spain. 491,000 specimens passed through laboratories. They were followed by poultry (99,000), around 58,000 rats, 55,000 zebrafish, approximately 31,000 rabbits, and 9,000 pigs. Horses and donkeys are not spared either (210), nor are cats (361), dogs (896), and macaques (346). These figures clearly show us that there is still much to be done. Because the end does not justify the means. And in this case, experimentation causes them great suffering, alterations, trauma… and in many cases, death. But, of course, for decades we have justified this in two highly questionable ways.
The first: experimenting on animals exempts us from having to experiment on humans during the early stages of experimentation. This means that if something goes wrong, the consequences are much less serious (invisible) than if the problem were caused to one of our fellow human beings.
The second: experimenting on animals helps us advance in medical and scientific terms. It is the fastest way to test medicines, treatments, and even the chemical components and dyes used in clothing. If it works on them, the process of making it work on humans is accelerated.
However, the ethics of these practices have long been called into question. Both by society and by the scientific community. The search for an alternative that avoids having to experiment on living beings is becoming increasingly urgent.
So much so that the European Medicines Agency recently published a study advocating the progressive replacement of animals with alternative methods. With the aim that no animal should have to suffer. The study also involves the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) and the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), which have been working together since October 2010.
Until this situation changes completely, it is proposed that a code be developed and implemented to control animal testing used for medical products. In the scientific field, this code is known as the “3Rs”:
1. Replace animal studies with others that do not use animals.
2. Reduce the number of animals used in studies as much as possible
3. Refine experimental methods and techniques to reduce the stress and harm caused to animals during experiments.
Guidelines will soon be published to also regulate regulatory testing for the development and testing of veterinary vaccines, as well as the safety of food residues intended for human consumption.
It may take many months before all of this is implemented, but without a doubt we are facing hopeful news that clearly shows that something is changing. Because even those who traditionally remained unmoved by animal suffering in order to defend their interests are beginning to realize that inflicting pain on other living, sentient beings reflects very poorly on us as a species that considers itself superior.