I have long advocated for the transition away from animal testing towards New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
The switch to NAMs is the right thing to do ethically, economically and scientifically, and whenever I raised this issue with Ministers under the previous Government, even they welcomed their growing use.
However, they would not actively support this transition, instead relying on the industry to act on its own.
In contrast, the current Government has now launched a strategy which aims to phase out animal testing.
I was proud to stand on a manifesto in which my Labour colleagues and I pledged to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”.
I therefore welcome this strategy and the Government’s desire to take an active role in the phasing out of animal testing.
I hope that this strategy will really accelerate the UK’s transition to NAMs.