Where are we in the transition to a world without animal testing?

If we were to take the temperature of the research world to see how many laboratory animals are still being used, the mercury would unfortunately still be rising. We cannot escape the fact that animal testing is still deeply entrenched in the scientific world: from grants to publications, and from education to scientific journals. The reason researchers and students come up against a system that is lagging behind is that more and more scientists are showing that there is another way. They are the pioneers in a crucial cultural shift. It is time to abandon animal testing as the norm and make way for innovation that is more in line with human needs.

Public opinion

Unfortunately, when people think of science, they often – wrongly – think of animal testing. Why do we use animals? More than three-quarters (76 per cent) of Dutch people are unaware that 90 per cent of the results of animal testing cannot be applied to humans.

If you ask our policy officers, we often don’t give enough thought to the question: what do we as a society actually want to achieve with science? Our colleague Lisanne de Vor, science and policy officer, explains: ‘We still don’t talk enough about what society thinks about animal testing and the research questions we ask. In fact, determining which questions we want to answer and which methods we use to do so is mainly left to scientists.’

Anne Burgers, science and policy advisor, adds: ‘One blind spot is the question of what research we should be conducting in the first place. Is it necessary to have an answer to every research question? Or can we also accept that sometimes we don’t know something?’

On the right track

Although it sometimes feels as if the system is changing slowly, we are seeing encouraging examples of how things can be done differently. For example, a roadmap has already been announced in the United Kingdom, subsidies for the monkey centre in Rijswijk have been phased out in the Netherlands, and an animal-free innovation was recently featured in the scientific journal Nature.

Anne also notices that we are on the right track. “I have noticed a few times now that when we indicate that we do not fund applications for funding that still partly use animal material, they come back with a new plan that is completely humane. So it is possible; sometimes all it takes is a little push.”
Lisanne also notices a change in thinking coming. ‘In my lectures, I see how motivated the new generation is to work differently. They are enthusiastic about all the new possibilities for answering their research questions without using animals.

At the same time, they are confronted with the fact that the scientific system is not yet properly equipped for this. For example, there is a preference for laboratory animals among supervisors, reviewers and scientific journals – also known as animal methods bias.’

Looking ahead to a future without animal testing

If we dare to let go of what we are used to, there will be room for real progress. Where do our policy officers see the greatest opportunities? Anne: ‘I have high expectations for the use of AI in animal-free models to make neuroscience, for example, more replaceable. And next year, the European Union will present its roadmap for phasing out animal testing in safety tests for chemicals. I am very much looking forward to seeing what it contains and hope for a smooth implementation!

Lisanne goes one step further: ‘The new concrete policy roadmaps of the United Kingdom and the United States are increasingly focused on replacing animal testing. I hope that more continents (including Europe next year) will follow suit in 2026! Due to cutbacks in science, it is also becoming increasingly important to collaborate more intelligently and use more efficient techniques. Animal-free methods are often more efficient and predictable, so hopefully this will be an extra incentive to make the switch more quickly.”

Where are we now?

So, things are looking hopeful! But of course, we also want to know when we will finally be rid of animal testing. Lisanne: ‘It’s difficult to estimate how long the whole process will take, so I can’t give a specific timeframe. But over the past 10 years, a huge number of animal-free methods have been developed. Now the focus really needs to be on using these new techniques instead of laboratory animals.’

Anne concludes: “As far as I’m concerned, we are at a tipping point. Never before have so many animal-free techniques, models and data been available. It’s now really a question of courage: daring to let go of the old system and embrace the new. It is not without reason that more and more researchers are consciously choosing a career without animal testing: it really is possible! Certainly with all the new insights into the perception of animals and the enormous impact this has on their welfare and lives, we have an obligation to choose animal-free testing when in doubt. Our goal for 2030 is to be 75% animal-free in biomedical research, so we can see if we are moving in the right direction. And yes, we expect to achieve that!

Would you also like to eliminate animal testing and join us in building a better future for humans and animals? Then take a look at all our projects for an animal-free future!

*Research by Markteffect (2025).

About Proefdiervrij
How we treat animals says something about who we are as a society. This is especially true when those animals are used in research intended to improve human health. Proefdiervrij is working towards a world without animal testing by promoting and accelerating human-centred, animal-free science.

That change is already underway. Animal testing is increasingly being replaced by human-centred models that better reflect what happens in the human body. Yet animal testing often remains the standard. With 2030 as the deadline on the horizon, we are working towards a tipping point where animal-free methods are the norm. In this way, we are helping to let go of what no longer fits and building research that helps people without unnecessarily using animals.