AN EARLY DAY Motion (EDM 465) tabled by Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, and already signed by 14 MPs, is calling on the Government to take urgent action to end animal toxicity testing carried out under poorly‑scrutinised ‘generic’ service licences.
Animal Aid are encouraged by the cross-party intervention which follows growing public and parliamentary concern sparked by its Toxicity Inc. exposé, launched in April, which revealed the reality of animals suffering in UK laboratories under these licences. More than 20,000 members of the public have since contacted their MP in support of reform.
New Freedom of information (FOI) data released by the Home Office shows that six generic service licences were granted in the first three months of 2026 alone, authorising the use of more than 100,000 animals over five years.
If this rate continues, the figures suggest that around 24 licences could be granted this year, permitting the use of well over 400,000 animals.
The data confirms that animals such as mice, rats, pigs, cows, birds and amphibians are subjected to procedures with a ‘severity’ classed as either moderate or severe, with some licences permitting a proportion of animals to experience severe suffering.
Generic service licences allow tests to be approved without specifying which substances the animals will be exposed to. This means those authorising the work cannot properly assess either the harms to animals or any potential benefit.
The EDM highlights this fundamental flaw, stating that meaningful harm–benefit analysis is not possible under such conditions and calling for urgent reform.
This comes despite the Government’s 2025 commitment to replace the use of animals in science, which currently lacks a clear delivery timeline.
The EDM supports calls to:
- Halt all new generic service licences
- Review all existing licences
- Urgently deliver the Government’s Replacing Animals in Science Strategy
With parliamentary support building, Animal Aid is urging MPs from all parties to sign the EDM and press the Government to act.
Members of the public can support the campaign by contacting their MP via the Toxicity Inc. exposé page.
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP said: “What we are witnessing is suffering hidden behind process and paperwork. Licences should never be issued in the dark.
“When approval is ‘blind’, so is accountability, and animals pay the price. Behind every licence is a living creature subjected to fear, distress and suffering that the public is never allowed to see. That must change.”
Jessamy Korotoga, Head of Science at Animal Aid, said: “Anyone who sees the photographs and video from the exposé will be shocked and appalled at what animals experience during toxicity tests which are legal and licensed.
Their agony, distress and helplessness are clear for all to see. Animals are different to people, making these tests cruel and unreliable.
“We urge the government to immediately suspend the granting of new service licences, review the existing licences and for the Government to urgently deliver its ‘Replacing Animals in Science Strategy’.
“We are delighted that, from today, MPs are now able to support this call.”
Alex Harman, Campaign Manager at Animal Aid, said: “The government must halt these unreliable toxicity tests now and immediately shift funding to superior, human-relevant alternatives like AI and advanced cell models.
“Thousands of animals experience suffering and eventual death due to toxicity tests. I’d highly encourage anyone who reads this to watch the exposé at toxicity.inc and see the truth for yourself.”
