Severe animal welfare infringements in animal testing

As an EU member state, Sweden must comply with Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. Project 1882 has reviewed Sweden's Implementation Report for 2018−2022, which shows that there are serious shortcomings in the handling of animals in animal testing in Sweden: 

Animal welfare infringements

Sweden, like almost all EU Member States, reported infringements of national animal welfare legislation. Frequent shortcomings in Sweden were: 

• Non-compliant enclosures (e.g. inappropriate size of cages, lighting, noise, environmental parameters)
• Failure to provide appropriate enrichment, bedding or nesting material
• Deficiencies in hygiene standards
• Failure to demonstrate daily health checks or monitoring of animals
• Deficiencies in alarm or backup systems, or inadequate processes for emergencies
• Exceeding the permitted number of animals used   

Other infringements that have come to light include comprehensive deficiencies in instructions and records, conducting animal testing without a project authorisation, conducting surgical interventions without animal health professionals, deficiencies in buildings and housing systems compromising animal safety, and inadequate care of sick and injured animals.  

Moreover, the report highlights problems with staff shortages, both in terms of monitoring animals and adequately qualified staff for animal testing. 

Inspections

According to the EU directive, at least one-third of animal housing facilities must be inspected each year. Sweden did not meet the requirements for inspections of animal facilities where animals used in experiments were kept in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Sweden also reported a shortage of qualified animal welfare inspectors.      

Sweden’s inability to protect animals, both at facilities and during research and testing, is unacceptable and a disgrace for a country that aims to be a leading nation in research and innovation, 

– Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882. 

Project 1882 urges the government to greatly increase the funding for animal-free research methods, and that Sweden adopts a national action plan to phase out animal testing, similar to the roadmap adopted by the United Kingdom last fall.   

Read more about how Project 1882 is working to phase out animal testing.