Thursday 11 January 2024 | 14

In 2024, mice and rats continue to be subjected to the worst experiments in French laboratories

In 2024, mice and rats continue to be subjected to the worst experiments in French laboratories

Mis à jour le 17 April 2024

In the middle of the end-of-year holidays, the Ministry of Research approved four projects which will subject more than 22,000 rats and mice to painful and repeated stimuli. We condemn the State's deference for these experiments, for which they are always quick to underestimate the degree of severity.

Hr blog

18,635 rats and 3770 mice. All of them will be deprived of food for hours before being isolated to be subjected to acute or chronic localised pain. Immobilised, they will feel their paws being burnt with a metal filament or suffer high temperatures, as an example. These exposures could be repeated several times a day, for several days. And that is without counting the lesions caused by the products that will be administered to them, or the blood tests carried out.

Although the non-technical summary (NTS) of one of the projects tries to reassure the public by stating that “an anaesthetic is applied before each procedure that needs/allows it”, we are not fooled. The wording used itself indicates that some of them do not allow even the slightest respite to be afforded to rats and mice. When it comes to testing painkillers, as is the case here, their distress is quite the opposite of guaranteed.

Increased and underestimated suffering

Half of the animals used will endure suffering labelled as severe. For another third, it will be ‘moderate’. And you can bet that when we talk about seconds, in certain cases it is a question of chronic pain, which regulations themselves classify at the highest degree of severity. This will not be the first time that the Ministry of Research has not even tried to reinforce its own decree. When it comes to caring for animals even a little bit, it is clearly not worth it.

In France, where less than 14% of experiments carried out belong to the most severe degree of severity, accepting this type of project on rodents does not even raise eyebrows. Despite the controversy and growing opposition from citizens, forced swimming tests inflicted on these animals benefit from the same leniency. And, while we condemned the concerning increase in the births of mice presenting genetic modifications that torment them, the authorities found nothing wrong with that either.

We will continue to give the million mice and 100,000 rats tested on each year by French laboratories a voice. To find out more about what these animals are subjected to here, you can go to our dedicated website.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Marion Henriet
Hr blog

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Comments 14

I accept that publication of my comments is subject to the code of conduct.

Patrice | Friday 19 January 2024

C'est bien tout le problème. Nos élus passent des lois pour satisfaire l'opinion publique, mais en même temps s'arrangent pour que celles-ci ne soient pas applicables afin de continuer à satisfaire cette fois les lobbys. C'est pareil avec la loi Labbé qui interdit l'usage de pesticides dans les jardins et sur la voie publique. Pour mes voisins rien n'a changé, ils disent juste lorsqu'ils sont pris en flag que dans leur pulvérisateur ils mettent du vinaigre ou autre désherbant soi-disant bio. Dans les faits, il n'y a personne pour contrôler ni faire appliquer la loi, surtout lorsqu'il s'agit d'écologie ou de souffrance animale.

Sylvia | Thursday 18 January 2024

Stop, en 2024 l'homme inflige encore et toujours les pires tortures aux animaux et ceci dans l'indifférence totale du plus grand nombre ! Mais que faut il faire pour que tout ceci cesse enfin ?

Marilyn | Thursday 18 January 2024

Les expériences sur les animaux sont cruelles et ne devraient plus exister du tout ! Il y a des solutions éthiques.

marie-claude | Thursday 18 January 2024

stop aux expériences sur les animaux