Minister of State, Home Office ( of Flint): This Government is
committed to partnering with scientists, industry and civil
society to work towards the phasing out of animal testing. As we
move towards this goal, we recognise that the development of safe
and effective medicines, the protection of humans and animals,
and the protection of the environment still relies on the limited
and strictly regulated use of animals. We are committed to
maintaining the UK's history of strong laws and strengthening our
regulatory framework to assure protections to animals used in
science. Strengthening our national regulator is important to
maintain our position at the global forefront of welfare and
support the UK's life science sector to innovate and grow.
To this end, the Great Britain Animals in Science Regulator will
make reforms to its organisational design to most effectively
deliver its purpose of protecting animals through maintaining
compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Reforms will ensure that the life sciences sector is supported to
grow through regulation which is proportionate, targeted, clear,
and consistent, as well as robust and effective. The reforms will
allow the Regulator to be flexible to developments in the
scientific and regulatory landscape, so that it is adaptable and
resilient over the long-term.
Changes to the Regulator's organisational design are focused on
ensuring the Regulator has the right capacity and capabilities in
the right places to meet best practice standards for regulators.
The changes are designed to facilitate the Regulator in adopting
an operating model which has an increased emphasis on data,
analysis and quality monitoring, and an improved provision of
guidance and communication to the life science sector on how to
comply with the law to protect animals. These changes will
achieve stronger protections for animals; increase adherence to
the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement; provide
an enhanced quality of service for the science sector; and
increase assurance to the public of the protections the UK
continues to deliver for animals in science.
