The European Commission has published its third report on the use of animals in research in the European Union (EU). The report contains statistics from 1999 on the number of animals used for research and other scientific purposes in EU member states.
The total number of animals used in EU research during 1999 was 9.8 million, down from 11.6 million in 1996 (the year covered in the preceding report). Rodents and rabbits totaled 87% of all utilized animals. Other species included (in descending order of use): cold-blooded animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles), birds, farm animals (pigs, cattle, sheep, etc.), carnivores (cats, dogs, ferrets, etc.), and primates.
Three of the EU's five categories of experiments accounted for the bulk of animal use: the discovery, development or quality control of products or appliances for human and veterinary medicine (52%), biological studies of a fundamental nature (30%), and toxicological or other safety evaluations (10%).
Source: Commission Communication to the Council and the Parliament (UK)
