280,000 test animals used in Flemish labs last year

Scientists used 280,416 test animals in 129 labs in Flanders last year, according to the Flemish department of environment, nature and energy. It’s the first time that the government of Flanders has tracked the figures on test animals in the region, which used to be done only on a national level. 

Animal welfare became a responsibility of the regions just last year, with the appointment of the first animal rights minister, Ben Weyts. For 2013, the Belgian public health service counted 626,742 test animals used across the country in 356 labs.

The majority of animal testing in Flanders is for research. This can be fundamental research, such as on the nervous system, or applied research, like on cancer. The other 24,000 animals were used for quality monitoring, safety and toxicity tests ahead of vaccines and medicine being introduced to the market.

Mice, rats and zebra fish are the most-used test animals in Flanders, with mice coming in at nearly 137,000. Mice are used for neurological research on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, ALS and Parkinson’s disease. Rats are used in many cases for research on epilepsy. Zebra fish are increasingly used for research on toxic chemicals.

More controversial are the 38 rhesus monkeys used for fundamental research on the nervous system at the University of Leuven. Animal welfare organisations are demanding a ban on primates for animal testing.

Before researchers can carry out test on animals in Flanders, they need to obtain permission from an ethics commission, which also examines alternatives to using animals.